Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Wilmington?

Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Cambridge vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 56% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 56% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$2,236

$1,103

+51% in Cambridge, MA

1 Bedroom

$2,496

$1,024

+59% in Cambridge, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,980

$1,213

+59% in Cambridge, MA

3 Bedroom

$3,325

$1,394

+58% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$1,040,500

$224,500

+78% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$126,469

$55,269

+56% in Cambridge, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$54,310

+18% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

30.5 yr

37.0 yr

+6.5 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

33.7%

46.0%

+12.3 pp in Wilmington, DE

Bachelor's+ (25+)

80.2%

33.1%

+47.1 pp in Cambridge, MA

Avg Commute

26.1 min

23.0 min

+3.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

436.7

1,138.2

+161% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

2,657.6

3,182.4

+20% in Wilmington, DE

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

54.9°F

+3.4°F in Wilmington, DE

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

43.1 in

+0.7 in in Cambridge, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

19.3

+35% in Cambridge, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$29.73

+3% 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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

6.25%

None

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

6.60%

+2.4 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 56% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Wilmington?: Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).