Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 52% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 47% higher in Cambridge, MA. Both cities are in Massachusetts, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,087
+51% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,028
+59% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,476
+50% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,675
+50% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$339,500
+67% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$67,544
+47% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$57,830
+13% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
34.1 yr
+3.6 yr in Worcester, MA
Homeownership
33.7%
42.4%
+8.7 pp in Worcester, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
34.1%
+46.1 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
25.1 min
+1.0 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
640.2
+47% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,580.3
+41% in Cambridge, MA

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
47.9°F
+3.6°F in Cambridge, MA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
48.1 in
+4.3 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$4.07/gal
about equal

Area: Massachusetts vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$30.66
about equal

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 / MA)
6.25%
6.25%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
9.00%
about equal

Cambridge vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Worcester?
Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 52% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Worcester?
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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Worcester?
Neither — both are in Massachusetts, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).