Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 59% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 63% 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
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$750
+66% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$857
+66% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,114
+63% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,240
+63% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$120,600
+88% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$46,628
+63% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$51,210
+23% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
33.5 yr
+3.0 yr in Rochester, NY
Homeownership
33.7%
37.2%
+3.5 pp in Rochester, NY
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
29.9%
+50.3 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
18.9 min
+7.2 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
690
+58% in Rochester, NY
Property Crime
2,657.6
3,533.4
+33% in Rochester, NY

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
48.2°F
+3.3°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
34.3 in
+9.5 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$4.13/gal
+1% in Rochester, NY

Area: Massachusetts vs New York.

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 Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 59% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Rochester?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester 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).