Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 66% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Wichita?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/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 $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 66% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 50% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$726

+68% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$761

+70% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$976

+67% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,199

+64% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$179,500

+83% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$63,072

+50% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$47,630

+29% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

35.7 yr

+5.2 yr in Wichita, KS

Homeownership

33.7%

58.4%

+24.7 pp in Wichita, KS

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

30.9%

+49.3 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

1,238.7

+184% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

2,657.6

5,284.9

+99% in Wichita, KS

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

57.0°F

+5.5°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

32.6 in

+11.1 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.85/gal

+5% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

15.7

+47% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$25.12

+18% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cambridge, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cambridge, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cambridge, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cambridge, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / KS)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in KS

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.58%

+3.4 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 66% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Wichita?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% 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).