Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge, MA and Seattle, WA

🙂 Solo nomad: Cambridge, MA is 23.2% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 17.2% more expensive with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Cambridge, MA is 5.5% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 7.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.93 $16.93
$25.11 $25.11
-32.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$102 $102
$118 $118
-13.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.83 $11.83
$13.84 $13.84
-14.52%
Cappuccino
$5.57 $5.57
$5.8 $5.8
-3.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.95 $2.95
2.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.51 $2.51
-3.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.89 $7.89
$7.81 $7.81
1.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.06 $8.06
$7.84 $7.84
2.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.34 $1.34
-14.93%
White Bread (500g)
$4.02 $4.02
$4.98 $4.98
-19.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$5.35 $5.35
21.87%
Eggs
$4.79 $4.79
$6.91 $6.91
-30.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.17 $15.17
$24.8 $24.8
-38.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.38 $13.38
$15.74 $15.74
-14.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.7 $20.7
$20.84 $20.84
-0.67%
Apples (1kg)
$6.79 $6.79
$6.05 $6.05
12.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 $1.94
$2.75 $2.75
-29.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.3 $6.3
$5.47 $5.47
15.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.32 $6.32
$6.45 $6.45
-2.02%
Potato (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$3.11 $3.11
4.50%
Onion (1kg)
$3.52 $3.52
$3.69 $3.69
-4.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.78 $2.78
-15.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.6 $2.6
$2.52 $2.52
3.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.74 $13.74
$11.64 $11.64
18.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.93 $14.93
$17.15 $17.15
-12.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 $1.68
$2.94 $2.94
-42.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72 $5.72
$4.19 $4.19
36.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.4 $2.4
$2.8 $2.8
-14.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.4 $89.4
$101 $101
-11.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.68 $2.68
-4.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.73 $1.73
$1.65 $1.65
4.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.31 $28.31
$30.13 $30.13
-6.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$1.16 $1.16
-22.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K $29.6K
$33.3K $33.3K
-11.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K $24.9K
$26.3K $26.3K
-5.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 $160
$271 $271
-40.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$52.7 $52.7
$61.8 $61.8
-14.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.3 $55.3
$75.2 $75.2
-26.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$101 $101
$78.4 $78.4
29.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.36 $30.36
$41.04 $41.04
-26.02%
Cinema Ticket
$15.32 $15.32
$15.89 $15.89
-3.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,793 $2,793
$2,248 $2,248
24.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.7K $27.7K
$29K $29K
-4.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$69.5 $69.5
-3.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67 $44.67
$52.5 $52.5
-14.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 $102
$120 $120
-14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148 $148
$142 $142
4.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,818 $2,818
$2,376 $2,376
18.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,865 $2,865
$1,829 $1,829
56.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$5,085 $5,085
$4,702 $4,702
8.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 $3,510
$3,474 $3,474
1.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,887 $4,887
$6,928 $6,928
-29.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,940 $4,940
$5,224 $5,224
-5.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambridge, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,088 $6,088
$6,473 $6,473
-5.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.42
0.16%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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