Cost of Living: Salem, MA vs Springfield, 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 Springfield, MA. In the model, rent is about 26.23% of gross in Salem, MA versus 16.23% in Springfield, MA, so Springfield, MA tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Salem, MA
$4,224/mo
Income level: below
Take-home in Springfield, MA
$4,224/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Salem, MA
26.23%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Springfield, MA
16.23%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Salem, MA and Springfield, MA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Springfield, MA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Springfield, MA
  • Lower home prices: Springfield, MA
  • Higher median household income: Salem, MA

Cost of Living Index

Salem, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Springfield, 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) · Springfield, MA: $1,059/mo

Median rent in Salem, MA is $651/mo higher than in Springfield, MA.

Median Home Price

Salem, MA: $497,400 · Springfield, MA: $222,700

Median home price in Salem, MA is $274,700 higher than in Springfield, MA.

Median Household Income

Salem, MA: $85,137 · Springfield, MA: $51,339

Salem, MA has a higher median household income than Springfield, MA by $33,798.

Salem, MA overview · Springfield, MA overview · Popular comparisons