Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,560 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Charlotte, NC is roughly 44% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 38% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Charlotte, NC

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,424
+36% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,374
+45% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,491
+50% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,663
+50% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$351,500
+66% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$78,438
+38% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$49,990
+25% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
34.4 yr
+3.9 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
33.7%
51.5%
+17.8 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
47.4%
+32.8 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
25.0 min
+1.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
733.1
+68% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
2,657.6
3,718.9
+40% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+8.4°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
41.6 in
+2.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.20

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.7
+50% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$30.10
+2% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cambridge, MA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charlotte, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / NC)
6.25%
4.75%
+1.5 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
3.99%
+5.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Charlotte?
Charlotte, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,560 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 44% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Charlotte?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).