Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, MA and Boston, MA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Boston, MA is 13.4% higher than in Cambridge, MA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Boston, MA is 10.8% higher than in Cambridge, MA | |
| Rent Prices in Boston, MA are 7.4% higher than in Cambridge, MA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Boston, MA are 18.5% higher than in Cambridge, MA | |
| Groceries Prices in Boston, MA are 3.0% higher than in Cambridge, MA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Boston, MA is 9.7% lower than in Cambridge, MA | |
Restaurants | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $19.50 | $30.00 | +53.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $100.00 | $110.00 | +10.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $12.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $8.00 | $8.00 | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $8.00 | $9.00 | +12.5 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.04 | $5.04 | 0.0 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $2.78 | $2.78 | 0.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.28 | $2.28 | 0.0 % |
Markets | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $1.11 | $1.18 | +6.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.60 | $3.60 | 0.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $3.00 | $3.00 | 0.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $5.59 | $5.59 | 0.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $6.83 | $6.83 | 0.0 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $6.34 | $6.34 | 0.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $8.55 | $8.55 | 0.0 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $3.15 | $3.15 | 0.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.85 | $0.85 | 0.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.52 | $2.52 | 0.0 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.90 | $3.25 | +12.2 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.39 | $2.01 | +45.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.63 | $1.83 | +12.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.78 | $2.78 | 0.0 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.87 | $2.87 | 0.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $16.50 | $16.50 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $1.81 | $3.03 | +67.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $5.28 | $5.28 | 0.0 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $12.54 | $12.54 | 0.0 % |
Transportation | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.45 | $2.40 | -2.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $90.00 | $90.00 | 0.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $2.60 | $2.60 | 0.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $2.82 | $2.82 | 0.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $28.00 | $28.00 | 0.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.96 | $0.95 | -0.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $36,584.00 | $36,584.00 | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,746.12 | $25,830.13 | +0.3 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $174.97 | $235.22 | +34.4 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $50.83 | $57.92 | +13.9 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $50.00 | $84.49 | +69.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $75.00 | $83.85 | +11.8 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $30.00 | $41.88 | +39.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $15.00 | $15.00 | 0.0 % |
Childcare | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $2,885.08 | $2,885.08 | 0.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $35,892.78 | $35,892.78 | 0.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $75.65 | $75.65 | 0.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $47.18 | $47.18 | 0.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $102.50 | $114.50 | +11.7 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $140.00 | $167.81 | +19.9 % |
Rent Per Month | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $3,425.00 | $3,416.21 | -0.3 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $2,877.50 | $2,599.74 | -9.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $5,320.00 | $6,258.17 | +17.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $3,525.00 | $3,993.50 | +13.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $464.64 | $1,227.26 | +164.1 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $464.64 | $583.15 | +25.5 % |
Salaries And Financing | Cambridge, MA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $6,226.25 | $6,231.08 | +0.1 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.30 | 6.33 | +0.5 % |
| Last update: | 5 June 2026 | 5 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 7 | 102 | |
Moving to Cambridge, MA? Explore:
Moving to Boston, MA? Explore:
Cities near Cambridge, MA: | Cost of Living in Somerville, Massachusetts | 1.40 miles |
| Cost of Living in Boston, Massachusetts | 3.01 miles |
| Cost of Living in Allston, Massachusetts | 3.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Everett, Massachusetts | 4.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Medford, Massachusetts | 5.52 miles |
| Cost of Living in Malden, Massachusetts | 5.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Chelsea, Massachusetts | 5.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Newton, Massachusetts | 7.96 miles |
| Cost of Living in Waltham, Massachusetts | 8.10 miles |
| Cost of Living in Woburn, Massachusetts | 9.72 miles |
Cities near Boston, MA: | Cost of Living in Malden, Massachusetts | 5.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lynn, Massachusetts | 10.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Waltham, Massachusetts | 11.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Natick, Massachusetts | 18.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tewksbury, Massachusetts | 23.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Brockton, Massachusetts | 24.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Acton, Massachusetts | 24.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashland, Massachusetts | 25.64 miles |
| Cost of Living in Beverly, Massachusetts | 28.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taunton, Massachusetts | 38.93 miles |