F
144%
Overall NAT. AVG.
22%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
436%
Housing NAT. AVG.
Search Homes for Sale
Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index West Cambridge Cambridge Massachusetts
Cost of living244201133
Goods & Services122122122
Groceries105105105
Health care113113113
Housing536392165
Transportation118118118
Utilities134134134
New Real Estate Listings in West Cambridge Area
Search Homes for Sale in Cambridge, MA

Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in West Cambridge is 84% higher than the Cambridge average
  • The cost of living in West Cambridge is 144% higher than the national average
  • West Cambridge housing is 436% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts state income tax is 93% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around West Cambridge

30 km
20 mi
West Cambridge Your current location Population: 8,302 F Mit Neighborhood: 2.4mi / 3.9km away Population: 3,835 F Mattapan Neighborhood: 7.0mi / 11.2km away Population: 42,727 F Roxbury Neighborhood: 4.9mi / 7.9km away Population: 58,696 F Lynn City: 11.1mi / 17.9km away Population: 94,201 F Fenway-Kenmore Neighborhood: 3.0mi / 4.8km away Population: 38,280 F East Boston Neighborhood: 6.0mi / 9.7km away Population: 45,902 F Roslindale Neighborhood: 6.7mi / 10.7km away Population: 31,348 F Chelsea City: 5.5mi / 8.8km away Population: 39,878 F Hyde Park Neighborhood: 8.5mi / 13.7km away Population: 38,370 F Revere City: 8.0mi / 12.9km away Population: 53,400 F Allston-Brighton Neighborhood: 1.7mi / 2.7km away Population: 67,713 F Everett City: 4.6mi / 7.4km away Population: 46,275 F Saugus City: 8.9mi / 14.3km away Population: 28,326 F North Dorchester Neighborhood: 5.8mi / 9.3km away Population: 26,430 F Malden City: 5.4mi / 8.6km away Population: 60,710 F Riverside Neighborhood: 1.2mi / 2.0km away Population: 12,628 F South Dorchester Neighborhood: 7.1mi / 11.4km away Population: 68,359 F Jamaica Plain Neighborhood: 4.2mi / 6.8km away Population: 47,098 F Winthrop Town City: 8.4mi / 13.4km away Population: 18,558 F Quincy City: 10.2mi / 16.4km away Population: 94,389 F Back Bay-Beacon Hill Neighborhood: 3.3mi / 5.4km away Population: 28,988 F South Boston Neighborhood: 5.6mi / 9.0km away Population: 41,090 F Central Neighborhood: 4.0mi / 6.4km away Population: 33,579 F Charlestown Neighborhood: 3.6mi / 5.8km away Population: 19,678 F North Cambridge Neighborhood: 1.4mi / 2.2km away Population: 14,956 F
See all the best places to live around West Cambridge

Compare Cambridge, MA Cost of Living

      vs
      How would you rate the cost of living in West Cambridge?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      Is the cost of living increasing or decreasing in West Cambridge?
      Write a review to give others more information about this area.
      See all West Cambridge poll results

      Salary Calculator

          This is how much you would need to earn in
          Price difference in compared to
          Cost of living index
          Goods & Services index
          Groceries index
          Health care index
          Housing index
          Transportation index
          Utilities index

          Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

          Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
          Household$140,742$11,729$3,284$4,223

          Massachusetts Sales Tax

          State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
          Massachusetts 6.25% 6.25%

          Massachusetts Income Tax

          State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
          Massachusetts 5% 9%

          Goods & Services

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          Haircut $43.72$24.2680.2%
          Beauty Salon $65.56$45.5643.9%
          Toothpaste $3.53$3.704.7%
          Shampoo $1.49$1.2816.4%
          Movie $15.49$12.1327.6%
          Bowling $29.33$18.0063.0%

          Groceries

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          Ground Beef $5.48$5.846.2%
          Fried Chicken $1.45$1.578.0%
          Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
          Potatoes $4.99$4.931.1%
          Pizza $12.52$12.093.6%
          Beer $10.21$10.411.9%

          Health Care

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          Optometrist $123.17$125.682.0%
          Doctor $157.89$135.7816.3%
          Dentist $149.22$113.2931.7%
          Ibuprofen $11.39$10.656.9%
          Lipitor $384.69$468.6017.9%

          Housing

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          Home Price $843,100.00$184,700.00356.5%
          Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,745.89$2,346.69102.2%
          Apartment Rent $2,293.00$949.00141.6%

          Transportation

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          Gasoline $3.43$3.460.9%
          Tire Balancing $97.39$59.9262.5%

          Utilities

          Item Cambridge National avg. Difference
          All Electricity $302.72$193.9956.0%
          Phone $187.85$192.252.3%
          Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

          Nearby cities with low cost of living

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Randolph, MA33,52612626.4%
          Lynn, MA94,20113635.5%
          Salem, MA43,35013939.2%
          Chelsea, MA39,87814039.5%
          Revere, MA53,40014241.6%
          Cambridge, MA117,822201101.1%

          Cities with similar population

          City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
          Lansing, MI117,4888416.5%
          Waterloo, ON118,234n/a 
          Beaumont, TX117,321927.7%
          Evansville, IN118,4148911.1%
          Independence, MO117,1398812.1%
          Cambridge, MA117,822201101.1%
          Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.