Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/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 $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 54% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 64% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Hartford, CT

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$973
+56% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,042
+58% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,296
+57% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,433
+57% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$217,200
+79% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$45,300
+64% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$59,940
+10% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
33.4 yr
+2.9 yr in Hartford, CT
Homeownership
33.7%
25.7%
+8.0 pp in Cambridge, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
18.3%
+61.9 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
22.8 min
+3.3 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
527.5
+21% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,949.2
+11% in Hartford, CT

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
51.2°F
+0.3°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
43.6 in
+0.2 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

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

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
24.3
+18% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$23.33
+24% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / CT)
6.25%
6.35%
+0.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
6.99%
+2.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 54% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Hartford?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).