Cost of living in Cambridge

In Cambridge, United States, living costs about $3756 per month for one person and $7619 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Cambridge compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in Cambridge are 163% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does Cambridge compare to your city?

Cambridge is 30% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Cambridge is, on average, 5% higher than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Cambridge?

Who is Cambridge a good fit for?

Cambridge is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by rent & utilities and food. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is Cambridge so expensive?

The primary driver of high costs in Cambridge is the significant expense associated with rent and utilities. This financial burden affects many residents and contributes to the overall high cost of living.

Is food expensive in Cambridge?

Yes, food costs are 56% higher than the European benchmark, making dining and grocery shopping relatively pricey. This can impact household budgets significantly.

Is public transport affordable in Cambridge?

Public transport in Cambridge is 11% lower than the European benchmark, making it a more accessible option for residents. This can help mitigate some living expenses.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
3756 $
Without Rent
1006 $
Rent & Utilities
2751 $
Food
742 $
Transport
66 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
6267 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
118.0K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 24.2 $
Dinner 100 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 13.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 8 $
Capuccino 5.34 $
Coke, 330ml 3.09 $

Compare Cambridge with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.13 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 4.01 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.88 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.6 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.4 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 20.5 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.49 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.82 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.75 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 6.36 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.56 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.74 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.75 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.66 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 15.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.75 $
Cigarette pack 12.8 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.44 $
Monthly Pass 89.9 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.96 $
Taxi, 8 km 16.7 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 153 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 6.59 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 7.3 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.02 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 102 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 155 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 56.6 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 2,601 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 3,505 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 2,559 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 5,150 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 4,875 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 4,826 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 6,267 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.64%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 100 $
Cinema, 1 seat 16.2 $
Haircut 20.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 100 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 60.7 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 2,428 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 24,792 $

Compare Cambridge with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Cambridge vs George Town (George Town is 3% less expensive)
Bahamas
Cambridge vs Nassau (Nassau is 27% less expensive) Cambridge vs Freeport (Freeport is 42% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Cambridge vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 37% less expensive) Cambridge vs Luganville (Luganville is 19% less expensive)
United States
Cambridge vs New York City (New York City is 8% more expensive) Cambridge vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 15% less expensive) Cambridge vs Chicago (Chicago is 29% less expensive) Cambridge vs Houston (Houston is 40% less expensive) Cambridge vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 37% less expensive) Cambridge vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 32% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 42% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Diego (San Diego is 11% less expensive) Cambridge vs Dallas (Dallas is 32% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Jose (San Jose is 2% less expensive)
Canada
Cambridge vs Toronto (Toronto is 31% less expensive) Cambridge vs Montreal (Montreal is 48% less expensive) Cambridge vs Calgary (Calgary is 43% less expensive) Cambridge vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 40% less expensive) Cambridge vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 52% less expensive) Cambridge vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 53% less expensive) Cambridge vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 34% less expensive) Cambridge vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 29% less expensive) Cambridge vs Brampton (Brampton is 43% less expensive) Cambridge vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 43% less expensive)
Barbados
Cambridge vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 64% less expensive) Cambridge vs Holetown (Holetown is 63% less expensive)
Panama
Cambridge vs Panama City (Panama City is 63% less expensive) Cambridge vs Colon (Colon is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs David (David is 78% less expensive) Cambridge vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 75% less expensive) Cambridge vs Balboa (Balboa is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Pacora (Pacora is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Chitre (Chitre is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs Penonome (Penonome is 71% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Cambridge vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Cayon (Cayon is 67% less expensive)
Cuba
Cambridge vs Havana (Havana is 73% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 62% less expensive) Cambridge vs Holguin (Holguin is 66% less expensive) Cambridge vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 59% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 59% less expensive) Cambridge vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 59% less expensive) Cambridge vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 77% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Cambridge vs San Jose (San Jose is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Limon (Limon is 68% less expensive) Cambridge vs Liberia (Liberia is 76% less expensive) Cambridge vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 66% less expensive) Cambridge vs Cartago (Cartago is 74% less expensive) Cambridge vs Heredia (Heredia is 67% less expensive) Cambridge vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 55% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 65% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Cambridge vs Castries (Castries is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 68% less expensive)
Jamaica
Cambridge vs Kingston (Kingston is 65% less expensive) Cambridge vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 79% less expensive) Cambridge vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 73% less expensive) Cambridge vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs May Pen (May Pen is 78% less expensive) Cambridge vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 74% less expensive) Cambridge vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs Linstead (Linstead is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 70% less expensive) Cambridge vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 70% less expensive)
El Salvador
Cambridge vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 68% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 69% less expensive) Cambridge vs Apopa (Apopa is 70% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 68% less expensive) Cambridge vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 61% less expensive) Cambridge vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 77% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Cambridge vs St. John's (St. John's is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs All Saints (All Saints is 71% less expensive)
Grenada
Cambridge vs St. George's (St. George's is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs Grenville (Grenville is 72% less expensive)
Dominica
Cambridge vs Roseau (Roseau is 73% less expensive) Cambridge vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 70% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Cambridge vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 74% less expensive) Cambridge vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 73% less expensive)
Belize
Cambridge vs Belize City (Belize City is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 71% less expensive) Cambridge vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 65% less expensive) Cambridge vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 58% less expensive)
Guatemala
Cambridge vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 73% less expensive) Cambridge vs Mixco (Mixco is 83% less expensive) Cambridge vs Coban (Coban is 76% less expensive) Cambridge vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 79% less expensive) Cambridge vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 76% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 76% less expensive) Cambridge vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs Flores (Flores is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 79% less expensive)
Honduras
Cambridge vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 78% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs Choloma (Choloma is 84% less expensive) Cambridge vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 83% less expensive) Cambridge vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 76% less expensive) Cambridge vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 77% less expensive) Cambridge vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs Yoro (Yoro is 80% less expensive) Cambridge vs La Lima (La Lima is 77% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Cambridge vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 79% less expensive) Cambridge vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 72% less expensive) Cambridge vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 80% less expensive) Cambridge vs Higuey (Higuey is 80% less expensive) Cambridge vs La Vega (La Vega is 85% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 78% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 86% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 83% less expensive) Cambridge vs Bonao (Bonao is 86% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Cambridge vs Managua (Managua is 79% less expensive) Cambridge vs Leon (Leon is 83% less expensive) Cambridge vs Masaya (Masaya is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 85% less expensive) Cambridge vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 83% less expensive) Cambridge vs Esteli (Esteli is 84% less expensive) Cambridge vs Granada (Granada is 81% less expensive) Cambridge vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 88% less expensive) Cambridge vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 82% less expensive) Cambridge vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 76% less expensive)