Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Overland Park

Kansas

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Overland Park, KS. Overall, Overland Park, KS is roughly 50% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $103,838 in Overland Park, KS — about 18% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Overland Park, KS

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,270
+43% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,224
+51% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,589
+47% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,828
+45% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$384,400
+63% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$103,838
+18% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$50,820
+24% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
38.6 yr
+8.1 yr in Overland Park, KS
Homeownership
33.7%
61.5%
+27.8 pp in Overland Park, KS
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
62.9%
+17.3 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
19.9 min
+6.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
188.4
+57% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,790.5
+33% 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
55.2°F
+3.7°F in Overland Park, KS
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
40.0 in
+3.7 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.85/gal
+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
15.7
+47% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$25.12
+18% 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
$1.66
+14% in Cambridge, MA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Overland Park, KS
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Cambridge, MA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Cambridge, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / KS)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in KS
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
5.58%
+3.4 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Overland Park — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Overland Park?
Overland Park, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 50% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Overland Park?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $49,000 in Overland Park.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Overland Park?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Overland Park under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).