Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
New York City

New York

$2,010/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 $2,010 in New York City, NY. Overall, New York City, NY is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $79,713 in New York City, NY — about 37% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
New York City, NY

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,633
+27% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,705
+32% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,781
+40% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$2,065
+38% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$751,700
+28% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$79,713
+37% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$61,430
+8% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
38.0 yr
+7.5 yr in New York City, NY
Homeownership
33.7%
32.8%
+0.9 pp in Cambridge, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
41.0%
+39.2 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
40.6 min
+14.5 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
694
+59% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
2,657.6
2,415.4
+9% 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 New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
49.9 in
+6.2 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$4.08/gal
+0% in New York City, NY

Area: Massachusetts vs New York City.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.5
+0% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$27.01
+12% 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 / NY)
6.25%
4%
+2.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
10.90%
+1.9 pp in NY

Cambridge vs New York City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or New York City?
New York City, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in New York City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $68,000 in New York City.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or New York City?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); New York City under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).