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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
$1,205/mo rent gap across the ranking. Rent ranges from $3,355/mo in Cambridge to $2,150/mo in Worcester — a monthly difference of $1,205, or $14,460 per year (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). The math checks out.
118,214 residents · Massachusetts
Dive into Cambridge's numbers: cost index 160 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (48 points above national average), rent $3,355/month, income $126,469, and a home price of $1,019,841. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 148, while Housing runs 251. With 118,214 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs (that's pre-tax, of course).
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
Look, Here's Boston by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 151. Rent: $3,510/month — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — . Income: $94,755/year. Home price: $768,702. That tracks. Population: 653,833. The strongest category is Utilities at 139; the most expensive is Housing at 228. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $19,380 more per year vs. the national median. This is where the math gets real for actual people (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
114,296 residents · Massachusetts
At $2,262/month for rent and a cost index of 118, Lowell is pretty much what you'd expect from a mid-size city in this part of the country. Income is $76,205. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is.
207,621 residents · Massachusetts
Here's the thing: the #4 spot goes to Worcester, and the breakdown explains why. And with some exceptions, renters here pay $2,150/month — costing renters $3,060 more per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 105, keeping costs manageable. The weak spot? Housing at 134. The 38% rent-to-income ratio is a pressure point — for median earners, housing takes more than recommended.
#1 Ranked: Cambridge — cost index 160, rent $3,355/mo, income $126,469
$1,205/mo rent gap across the ranking
0 of 4 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
$1,205/mo rent gap across the ranking. Rent ranges from $3,355/mo in Cambridge to $2,150/mo in Worcester — a monthly difference of $1,205, or $14,460 per year (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). The math checks out.
Let's be honest: Massachusetts isn't cheap. But within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Cambridge proves it with a cost index of 160, the lowest in Massachusetts, and we've ranked all 4 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
A closer look at Cambridge: the cost index of 160 — for better or worse — breaks down to a Utilities index of 148 (strongest category) and a Housing index of 251 (weakest). Median rent is $3,355/month — 77% above the national median — while household income sits at $126,469, meaning locals spend about 32% of income on rent. That exceeds the recommended 30% threshold — affordability here depends on earning above the median.
Now, stack that against what people actually earn here: State context matters: Massachusetts's 4 cities average a 136 cost index with $2,819/month median rent and $91,243 household income. Boston's biotech boom and old-money pricing. The salary data below puts this in sharper focus.
Bottom line: Cambridge leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Cambridge | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $82,017 |
2Boston | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $82,017 |
3Lowell | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $82,017 |
4Worcester | 9% | 6.25% | 1.04% | $82,017 |
Cambridge ranks #1 in Massachusetts for this analysis with a cost index of 160 and median income of $126,469.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Cambridge (ranked #1) has a cost index of 160 and rent of $3,355/mo, while Worcester (ranked #4) has a cost index of 114 and rent of $2,150/mo — a 46-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Cambridge is $3,355/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $1,460 above the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Cambridge is $1,019,841, which is 8.1× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Massachusetts has a 9% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.25%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.04%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.