Cost of Living: Salem, MA vs Cambridge, MA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,224/mo in Salem, MA versus $4,224/mo in Cambridge, MA. In the model, rent is about 26.23% of gross in Salem, MA versus 39.96% in Cambridge, MA, so Salem, MA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Salem, MA and Cambridge, MA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Cambridge, MA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Salem, MA
- Lower home prices: Salem, MA
- Higher median household income: Cambridge, MA
Cost of Living Index
Salem, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Cambridge, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).
Median Rent
Salem, MA: $1,710/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Cambridge, MA: $2,605/mo
Median rent in Cambridge, MA is $895/mo higher than in Salem, MA.
Median Home Price
Salem, MA: $497,400 · Cambridge, MA: $1,040,500
Median home price in Cambridge, MA is $543,100 higher than in Salem, MA.
Median Household Income
Salem, MA: $85,137 · Cambridge, MA: $126,469
Cambridge, MA has a higher median household income than Salem, MA by $41,332.
Salem, MA overview · Cambridge, MA overview · Popular comparisons