Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Provo?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 60% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $39,000 in Provo.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Provo?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Provo Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 60% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $62,800 in Provo, UT — about 50% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Provo, UT

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,009

+55% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$978

+61% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,128

+62% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,381

+58% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$437,100

+58% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$62,800

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$48,010

+28% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

23.7 yr

+6.8 yr in Cambridge, MA

Homeownership

33.7%

39.9%

+6.2 pp in Provo, UT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

45.0%

+35.2 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

18.5 min

+7.6 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

205.7

+53% in Cambridge, MA

Property Crime

2,657.6

1,280.6

+52% 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

53.4°F

+1.9°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

19.8 in

+24.0 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$4.27/gal

+5% in Provo, UT

Area: Massachusetts vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

13.4

+55% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$11.84

+61% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Provo, UT

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 / UT)

6.25%

6.1%

+0.2 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

4.50%

+4.5 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Provo — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Provo?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 60% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Provo?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $39,000 in Provo.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Provo?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Provo under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).