Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, MA and New York, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, MA and New York, NY

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Cambridge, MA is 32% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 4.2% cheaper with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Cambridge, MA is 16% cheaper than New York, NY without rent, and 28.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.93 $16.93
$29.68 $29.68
-42.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$144 $144
-29.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.83 $11.83
$12.43 $12.43
-4.83%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$5.84 $5.84
-4.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$3.26 $3.26
-7.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.58 $2.58
-6.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 $7.89
$8.24 $8.24
-4.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$11.86 $11.86
-32.04%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.56 $1.56
-26.92%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$5.23 $5.23
-23.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$8.11 $8.11
-19.61%
Eggs
$4.79 $4.79
$7.25 $7.25
-33.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.17 $15.17
$17.08 $17.08
-11.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.38 $13.38
$16.24 $16.24
-17.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.7 $20.7
$20.02 $20.02
3.40%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$7.49 $7.49
-9.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.55 $2.55
-23.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.3 $6.3
$5.82 $5.82
8.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$6.52 $6.52
-3.07%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.72 $3.72
-12.63%
Onion (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.9 $3.9
-9.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$3.07 $3.07
-23.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.57 $2.57
1.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 $13.74
$19.21 $19.21
-28.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.93 $14.93
$17.79 $17.79
-16.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$3.01 $3.01
-44.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 $5.72
$3.72 $3.72
53.76%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.92 $2.92
-17.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 $89.4
$134 $134
-33.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$5.13 $5.13
-49.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$2.15 $2.15
-19.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.31 $28.31
$41.57 $41.57
-31.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.95 $0.95
-5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$35K $35K
-15.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$27.7K $27.7K
-10.21%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$179 $179
-10.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$60 $60
-12.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.3 $55.3
$63.8 $63.8
-13.38%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 $101
$141 $141
-28.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36 $30.36
$63.9 $63.9
-52.49%
Cinema Ticket
$15.32 $15.32
$19.9 $19.9
-23.02%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,793 $2,793
$3,206 $3,206
-12.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.7K $27.7K
$56.5K $56.5K
-50.98%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$65.7 $65.7
2.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67 $44.67
$48.75 $48.75
-8.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$111 $111
-8.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$172 $172
-13.54%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,818 $2,818
$4,165 $4,165
-32.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$2,653 $2,653
7.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,085 $5,085
$8,412 $8,412
-39.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 $3,510
$5,277 $5,277
-33.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,887 $4,887
$15.6K $15.6K
-68.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,940 $4,940
$11.2K $11.2K
-55.73%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Cambridge, MA
New York, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,088 $6,088
$5,616 $5,616
8.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.44
-0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

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