Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Seattle, WA is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 4% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,638
+27% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,858
+26% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$2,359
+21% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$2,918
+12% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$912,100
+12% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$121,984
+4% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$72,610
+9% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
35.5 yr
+5.0 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
33.7%
44.2%
+10.5 pp in Seattle, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
67.5%
+12.7 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
26.6 min
+0.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
788.6
+81% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
2,657.6
5,108.8
+92% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+2.0°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
37.7 in
+6.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$5.41/gal
+33% in Seattle, WA

Area: Massachusetts vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
14.9
+50% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$21.34
+30% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Seattle, WA
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 / WA)
6.25%
6.5%
+0.3 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
None
+9.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Seattle?
Seattle, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Seattle?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).