Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
El Paso

Texas

$1,020/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 $1,020 in El Paso, TX. Overall, El Paso, TX is roughly 64% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $58,734 in El Paso, TX — about 54% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
El Paso, TX

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$707
+68% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$816
+67% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$993
+67% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,252
+62% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$171,700
+83% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$58,734
+54% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$39,510
+41% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
34.1 yr
+3.6 yr in El Paso, TX
Homeownership
33.7%
60.2%
+26.5 pp in El Paso, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
27.5%
+52.7 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
23.7 min
+2.4 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
319.7
+27% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,509.3
+43% 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
64.6°F
+13.1°F in El Paso, TX
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
9.7 in
+34.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.58/gal
+12% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.9
+46% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$31.89
+4% in El Paso, TX

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

Cambridge vs El Paso — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or El Paso?
El Paso, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 64% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in El Paso?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $33,000 in El Paso.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or El Paso?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); El Paso under Texas's (no state income tax 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).