Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/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 $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $2,810 in Cambridge, MA. Overall, Boston, MA is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $126,469 in Cambridge, MA — about 25% higher in Cambridge, MA. Both cities are in Massachusetts, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
Cambridge, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$2,236
+18% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$2,496
+26% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$2,980
+38% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$3,325
+49% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$1,040,500
+46% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$126,469
+33% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$66,620
about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
30.5 yr
+2.7 yr in Boston, MA
Homeownership
35.4%
33.7%
+1.7 pp in Boston, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
80.2%
+26.1 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
30.2 min
26.1 min
+4.1 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
436.7
+31% in Boston, MA
Property Crime
2,030.8
2,657.6
+31% 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
51.5°F
51.5°F
about equal
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
43.8 in
about equal

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$4.07/gal
about equal

Area: Massachusetts vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$30.66
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / MA)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
9.00%
about equal

Boston vs Cambridge — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Cambridge?
Boston, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Cambridge?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $100,000 in Cambridge.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Cambridge?
Neither — both are in Massachusetts, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).