Living Cost Compare
Arlington

Texas

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 42% higher in Cambridge, MA. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX
Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,088
$2,236
+106% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$2,496
+111% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$1,410
$2,980
+111% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,819
$3,325
+83% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$276,400
$1,040,500
+276% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$73,519
$126,469
+72% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,440
$66,620
+30% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.6 yr
30.5 yr
+3.1 yr in Arlington, TX
Homeownership
54.8%
33.7%
+21.1 pp in Arlington, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.1%
80.2%
+47.1 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.7 min
26.1 min
+0.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
494.2
436.7
+12% in Arlington, TX
Property Crime
2,434.5
2,657.6
+9% 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
65.4°F
51.5°F
+13.9°F in Arlington, TX
Annual Precipitation
39.6 in
43.8 in
+4.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$4.07/gal
+14% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Texas vs Massachusetts.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
N/A
—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
29.6
+86% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$30.66
+4% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Cambridge, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Arlington, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / MA)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
None
9.00%
+9.0 pp in MA

Arlington vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Cambridge?
Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Cambridge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Cambridge?
Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).