Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Denver?

Denver, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,760 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Denver?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Denver, CO is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 28% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,497

+33% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,583

+37% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,958

+34% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$2,269

+32% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$586,700

+44% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$91,681

+28% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$62,320

+6% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

35.2 yr

+4.7 yr in Denver, CO

Homeownership

33.7%

49.1%

+15.4 pp in Denver, CO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

55.6%

+24.6 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

25.4 min

+0.7 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

999.3

+129% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

2,657.6

4,781.1

+80% in Denver, CO

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

50.2°F

+1.3°F in Cambridge, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

15.6 in

+28.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$4.16/gal

+2% in Denver, CO

Area: Massachusetts vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

17.1

+42% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$15.05

+51% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / CO)

6.25%

2.9%

+3.4 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

4.40%

+4.6 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Denver?: Denver, CO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,760 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Denver?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).