City Comparison

Beaumont vs Cambridge

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Beaumont

Texas
78
Very Affordable
$166,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$57,000
Median Income

Cambridge

Massachusetts
178
Very Expensive
$890,000
Median Home
$3,100/mo
Median Rent
$103,154
Median Income

The Verdict

56.2%

Living in Beaumont costs 56.2% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Beaumont, you would need $171,154 in Cambridge.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
81
Beaumont
280
Cambridge
Groceries
96
Beaumont
110
Cambridge
Utilities
102
Beaumont
126
Cambridge
Transportation
93
Beaumont
105
Cambridge
Healthcare
104
Beaumont
118
Cambridge

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has the same purchasing power as $171,154 in Cambridge.

Conversely, $75,000 in Cambridge equals $32,865 in Beaumont.

Living in Beaumont vs Cambridge

Housing Costs

Beaumont's housing index of 81 is lower Cambridge's 280, translating to median home prices of $166,000 vs $890,000. The $724,000 difference in home prices means roughly $47,064 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,000/mo in Beaumont compared to $3,100/mo in Cambridge, a monthly difference of $2,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 96 in Beaumont and 110 in Cambridge. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $456/month in Beaumont vs $523/month in Cambridge. Beaumont offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 102 in Beaumont and 126 in Cambridge. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Beaumont vs $504 in Cambridge. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 104 in Beaumont and 118 in Cambridge. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $57,000 in Beaumont and $103,154 in Cambridge. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $73,077 and $57,952 respectively. Beaumont residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,330/month to housing in Beaumont vs $2,407/month in Cambridge. In Beaumont, median rent of $1,000/mo fits within this budget. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 199 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Beaumont is 56.2% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Beaumont has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $171,154 in Cambridge, based on the cost of living difference.
Beaumont's housing index is 81 with median homes at $166,000, while Cambridge's is 280 with median homes at $890,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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