Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Eugene?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $43,000 in Eugene.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Eugene?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Eugene Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/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 $1,260 in Eugene, OR. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 55% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $63,836 in Eugene, OR — about 50% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Eugene, OR

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,011

+55% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,080

+57% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,411

+53% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,674

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$435,400

+58% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$63,836

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$49,680

+25% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

35.4 yr

+4.9 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

33.7%

47.6%

+13.9 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

44.2%

+36.0 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

18.6 min

+7.5 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

319.6

+27% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,348.9

+26% in Eugene, OR

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

52.5°F

+1.0°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

46.1 in

+2.3 in in Eugene, OR

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$5.21/gal

+28% in Eugene, OR

Area: Massachusetts vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

16.3

+45% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$21.60

+30% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Eugene, OR

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 / OR)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

9.90%

+0.9 pp in OR

Cambridge vs Eugene — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Eugene?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 55% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Eugene?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $43,000 in Eugene.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Eugene?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Eugene under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).