Median rent is 1% lower in Cambridge ($2,787/mo vs $2,808/mo). Buying is cheaper in Cambridge, where the median home runs $1,092,100 versus $1,257,000. Households earn more in Carlsbad ($142,748 vs $130,748 a year). Taken together, Cambridge is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 110.4 against 110.7 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Carlsbad, CA.
City A
Cambridge, MA
City B
Carlsbad, CA
How much would you need to earn in Carlsbad, CA to maintain your standard of living from Cambridge, MA?
Equivalent salary in Carlsbad, CA
$75,236
You'd need $236 more (0% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each city's metro area. A rough estimate of overall purchasing power, not tax or take-home pay.
Metric
Cambridge
Massachusetts
Carlsbad
California
👥Population
💰Median Household Income
Annual
🏠Median Gross Rent
Per month
🏡Median Home Value
📊Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
🔑1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🔑3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
🌬️Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
🏛️Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
🧾State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
🎂Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $2,787/mo in Cambridge and $2,808/mo in Carlsbad. Median home values are within 13% of each other: $1,092,100 in Cambridge and $1,257,000 in Carlsbad.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Cambridge
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Carlsbad
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is not yet available for these cities.
Pick Carlsbad if you prioritize higher median household income ($142,748/yr).
Is Cambridge cheaper than Carlsbad?
Cambridge is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 110.4 versus 110.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Cambridge.
How much is rent in Cambridge vs Carlsbad?
Median rent is $2,787/mo in Cambridge, MA and $2,808/mo in Carlsbad, CA. Cambridge, MA has the lower rent by about 1%.
Which has higher salaries — Cambridge or Carlsbad?
Median household income is $130,748 in Cambridge, MA and $142,748 in Carlsbad, CA. Carlsbad, CA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
Which has lower taxes — Cambridge or Carlsbad?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Carlsbad to match my Cambridge income?
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Cambridge, MA is equivalent to roughly $100,315 in Carlsbad, CA (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
