Median rent is 35% lower in New York ($1,821/mo vs $2,787/mo). Buying is cheaper in New York, where the median home runs $777,600 versus $1,092,100. Households earn more in Cambridge ($130,748 vs $80,483 a year). Taken together, Cambridge is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 110.4 against 112.6 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Cambridge, MA.
Cost of living verdict
Cambridge is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 110.4 in Cambridge vs 112.6 in New York (US national average = 100)
City A
Cambridge, MA
City B
New York, NY
How much would you need to earn in New York, NY to maintain your standard of living from Cambridge, MA?
Equivalent salary in New York, NY
$76,530
You'd need $1,530 more (2% higher).
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Cambridge
Massachusetts
New York
New York
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: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in New York — median rent of $1,821/mo versus $2,787/mo in Cambridge, a 35% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Cambridge: the median home is $1,092,100 versus $777,600 in New York — 29% more expensive.
Metric
Cambridge
New York
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
New York
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Air quality data is available for New York (avg AQI 46.0) but not yet for Cambridge.
Pick Cambridge if you prioritize higher median household income ($130,748/yr).
Pick New York if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,821/mo median).
Cambridge is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 110.4 versus 112.6 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Cambridge.
Median rent is $2,787/mo in Cambridge, MA and $1,821/mo in New York, NY. New York, NY has the lower rent by about 35%.
Median household income is $130,748 in Cambridge, MA and $80,483 in New York, NY. Cambridge, MA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Air quality data is not yet available for one or both cities.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Cambridge, MA is equivalent to roughly $102,040 in New York, NY (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
