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

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: New York, NY is 47% more expensive than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 4.4% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: New York, NY is 19% more expensive than Cambridge, MA without rent, and 39.1% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$16.93 $16.93
75.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$102 $102
41.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.83 $11.83
5.07%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.57 $5.57
4.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.03 $3.03
7.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.42 $2.42
6.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.89 $7.89
4.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.06 $8.06
47.15%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.14 $1.14
36.84%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.02 $4.02
30.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.52 $6.52
24.39%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.79 $4.79
51.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$15.17 $15.17
12.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$13.38 $13.38
21.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$20.7 $20.7
-3.29%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$6.79 $6.79
10.31%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.94 $1.94
31.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$6.3 $6.3
-7.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$6.32 $6.32
3.16%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$3.25 $3.25
14.46%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.52 $3.52
10.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.36 $2.36
30.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.6 $2.6
-1.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$13.74 $13.74
39.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$14.93 $14.93
19.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$1.68 $1.68
79.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$5.72 $5.72
-34.97%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.4 $2.4
21.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$89.4 $89.4
49.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.57 $2.57
99.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.73 $1.73
24.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$28.31 $28.31
46.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.9 $0.9
5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$29.6K $29.6K
18.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$24.9K $24.9K
11.37%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$160 $160
11.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$52.7 $52.7
13.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$55.3 $55.3
15.45%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$101 $101
39.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$30.36 $30.36
110.47%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.32 $15.32
29.90%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$2,793 $2,793
14.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$27.7K $27.7K
104.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$67.2 $67.2
-2.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$44.67 $44.67
9.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$102 $102
9.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$148 $148
15.66%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$2,818 $2,818
47.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,865 $2,865
-7.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$5,085 $5,085
65.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,510 $3,510
50.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$4,887 $4,887
219.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$4,940 $4,940
125.87%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Cambridge, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$6,088 $6,088
-7.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.43
0.16%

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

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

Last update for Cambridge, MA: October 28, 2025

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