Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Worcester?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Worcester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Worcester?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Eugene vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 5% higher in Worcester, MA. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,087

+8% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,028

+5% in Eugene, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,476

+5% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,675

+0% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$339,500

+22% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$67,544

+6% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$57,830

+16% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

34.1 yr

+1.3 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

42.4%

+5.2 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

34.1%

+10.1 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

25.1 min

+6.5 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

640.2

+100% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

3,348.9

1,580.3

+53% in Eugene, OR

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

47.9°F

+4.6°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

48.1 in

+2.0 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$4.07/gal

+22% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

29.6

+81% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$30.66

+42% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / MA)

None

6.25%

+6.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

9.00%

+0.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or Worcester?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or Worcester?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (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).