Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Cleveland?

Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 67% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Cleveland?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $29,000 in Cleveland.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Cleveland?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Cleveland Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 67% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 69% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$678

+70% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$732

+71% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$903

+70% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,081

+67% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$94,100

+91% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$39,187

+69% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$50,140

+25% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

36.3 yr

+5.8 yr in Cleveland, OH

Homeownership

33.7%

41.2%

+7.5 pp in Cleveland, OH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

21.3%

+58.9 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

22.9 min

+3.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

1,582

+262% in Cleveland, OH

Property Crime

2,657.6

4,531.3

+71% in Cleveland, OH

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

52.7°F

+1.2°F in Cleveland, OH

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

36.4 in

+7.4 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.80/gal

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.2

+35% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$22.83

+26% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Cleveland, OH

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / OH)

6.25%

5.75%

+0.5 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

2.75%

+6.3 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Cleveland?: Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 67% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Cleveland?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Cleveland?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).