Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Houston

Texas

$1,360/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 $1,360 in Houston, TX. Overall, Houston, TX is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $62,894 in Houston, TX — about 50% 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
Houston, TX

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,142
+49% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,156
+54% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,375
+54% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,664
+50% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$253,400
+76% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$62,894
+50% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$49,410
+26% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
34.3 yr
+3.8 yr in Houston, TX
Homeownership
33.7%
42.0%
+8.3 pp in Houston, TX
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
36.0%
+44.2 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
27.3 min
+1.2 min in Houston, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
1,153.8
+164% in Houston, TX
Property Crime
2,657.6
4,324.9
+63% in Houston, TX

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
70.3°F
+18.8°F in Houston, TX
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
54.6 in
+10.9 in in Houston, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.52/gal
+13% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Houston.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.9
+46% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$31.89
+4% in Houston, 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 Houston, 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 Houston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Houston?
Houston, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,360 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Houston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $46,000 in Houston.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Houston?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Houston 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).