Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
San Francisco

California

$2,760/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 $2,760 in San Francisco, CA. Overall, San Francisco, CA is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $141,446 in San Francisco, CA — about 11% higher in San Francisco, CA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
San Francisco, CA

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,560
+30% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$2,425
+3% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$2,982
+0% in San Francisco, CA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$3,269
+2% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$1,380,500
+33% in San Francisco, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$141,446
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$74,260
+11% in San Francisco, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
39.7 yr
+9.2 yr in San Francisco, CA
Homeownership
33.7%
38.5%
+4.8 pp in San Francisco, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
60.1%
+20.1 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
31.2 min
+5.1 min in San Francisco, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
596.5
+37% in San Francisco, CA
Property Crime
2,657.6
3,962.2
+49% in San Francisco, CA

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
57.3°F
+5.8°F in San Francisco, CA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
23.6 in
+20.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$5.55/gal
+36% in San Francisco, CA

Area: Massachusetts vs San Francisco.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
34.7
+17% in San Francisco, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$20.33
+34% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in San Francisco, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in San Francisco, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in San Francisco, CA
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 / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
13.30%
+4.3 pp in CA

Cambridge vs San Francisco — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or San Francisco?
San Francisco, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,760 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in San Francisco?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $97,000 in San Francisco.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or San Francisco?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); San Francisco under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).