City Comparison

Antioch vs Lowell

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Antioch

California
147
Expensive
$610,000
Median Home
$2,250/mo
Median Rent
$97,500
Median Income

Lowell

Massachusetts
131
Expensive
$429,000
Median Home
$1,925/mo
Median Rent
$79,700
Median Income

The Verdict

12.2%

Lowell is 12.2% less expensive than Antioch overall. A household earning $75,000 in Antioch would need approximately $66,837 in Lowell to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
193
Antioch
152
Lowell
Groceries
107
Antioch
104
Lowell
Utilities
156
Antioch
151
Lowell
Transportation
140
Antioch
108
Lowell
Healthcare
122
Antioch
118
Lowell

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Antioch has the same purchasing power as $66,837 in Lowell.

Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $84,160 in Antioch.

Living in Antioch vs Lowell

Housing Costs

Antioch's housing index of 193 is higher Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $610,000 vs $429,000. The $181,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,760 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,250/mo in Antioch compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $325.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Antioch and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Antioch vs $494/month in Lowell. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 156 in Antioch and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $624 in Antioch vs $604 in Lowell. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 122 in Antioch and 118 in Lowell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $97,500 in Antioch and $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $66,327 and $60,840 respectively. Antioch residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,275/month to housing in Antioch vs $1,860/month in Lowell. In Antioch, median rent of $2,250/mo fits within this budget. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 41 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Lowell is 12.2% more affordable overall with an index of 131 vs 147.
A $75,000 salary in Antioch has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $66,837 in Lowell, based on the cost of living difference.
Antioch's housing index is 193 with median homes at $610,000, while Lowell's is 152 with median homes at $429,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases