Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ. Overall, Jersey City, NJ is roughly 25% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ — about 25% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Jersey City, NJ

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,949
+13% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,853
+26% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,857
+38% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$2,004
+40% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$534,500
+49% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$94,813
+25% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$61,430
+8% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
34.7 yr
+4.2 yr in Jersey City, NJ
Homeownership
33.7%
28.8%
+4.9 pp in Cambridge, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
53.1%
+27.1 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
36.9 min
+10.8 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
562.9
+29% in Jersey City, NJ
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,036.4
+23% 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
55.0°F
+3.5°F in Jersey City, NJ
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
49.9 in
+6.2 in in Jersey City, NJ

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
24.9
+16% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$17.68
+42% 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 / NJ)
6.25%
6.625%
+0.4 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
10.75%
+1.8 pp in NJ

Cambridge vs Jersey City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Jersey City?
Jersey City, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,100 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 25% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Jersey City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $74,000 in Jersey City.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Jersey City?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Jersey City under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).