Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Raleigh?

Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $53,000 in Raleigh.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Raleigh?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Raleigh Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/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 $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Raleigh, NC is roughly 46% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 35% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,301

+42% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,323

+47% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,462

+51% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,715

+48% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$377,800

+64% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$82,424

+35% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$51,990

+22% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

34.7 yr

+4.2 yr in Raleigh, NC

Homeownership

33.7%

51.2%

+17.5 pp in Raleigh, NC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

52.9%

+27.3 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

23.4 min

+2.7 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

491.5

+13% in Raleigh, NC

Property Crime

2,657.6

2,838.4

+7% in Raleigh, NC

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

60.6°F

+9.1°F in Raleigh, NC

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

46.0 in

+2.3 in in Raleigh, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

14.7

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$30.10

+2% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cambridge, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Raleigh, NC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / NC)

6.25%

4.75%

+1.5 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

3.99%

+5.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Raleigh?: Raleigh, NC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,510 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 46% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Raleigh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Raleigh?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).