Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Anaheim, CA is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 28% higher in Cambridge, MA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Anaheim, CA
Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$2,236
+16% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$2,496
+41% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$2,980
+37% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$3,325
+25% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$1,040,500
+35% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$126,469
+40% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$66,620
+19% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
30.5 yr
+5.4 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
33.7%
+12.2 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
80.2%
+51.4 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
26.1 min
+2.1 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
436.7
+27% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,657.6
+19% in Cambridge, MA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
51.5°F
+15.6°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
43.8 in
+30.3 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$4.07/gal
+26% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
—

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
29.6
+15% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$30.66
+51% in Cambridge, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / MA)
7.25%
6.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
9.00%
+4.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Cambridge?
Anaheim, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Cambridge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Cambridge?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Cambridge under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).