Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Phoenix?

Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Phoenix?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $50,000 in Phoenix.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Phoenix?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Phoenix Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Phoenix

Arizona

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Phoenix, AZ. Overall, Phoenix, AZ is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $77,041 in Phoenix, AZ — about 39% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Arizona has a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Phoenix, AZ

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,127

+50% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,253

+50% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,493

+50% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,771

+47% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$381,900

+63% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$77,041

+39% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$51,380

+23% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

34.8 yr

+4.3 yr in Phoenix, AZ

Homeownership

33.7%

57.1%

+23.4 pp in Phoenix, AZ

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

32.3%

+47.9 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

25.7 min

+0.4 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

799.6

+83% in Phoenix, AZ

Property Crime

2,657.6

2,338.9

+12% 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

75.1°F

+23.6°F in Phoenix, AZ

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

8.2 in

+35.6 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$5.21/gal

+28% in Phoenix, AZ

Area: Massachusetts vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.2

+49% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$24.74

+19% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Phoenix, AZ

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Phoenix, AZ

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Phoenix, AZ

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / AZ)

6.25%

5.6%

+0.7 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

2.50%

+6.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Phoenix — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Phoenix?: Phoenix, AZ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Phoenix?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $50,000 in Phoenix.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Phoenix?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Phoenix under Arizona's (a top state income tax rate of 2.50% and a 5.6% 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).