City Comparison

Cambridge vs Concord

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Concord

North Carolina
96
Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,350/mo
Median Rent
$86,900
Median Income

The Verdict

85.4%

Living in Concord costs 85.4% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cambridge, you would need $40,449 in Concord.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
89
Concord
Groceries
110
Cambridge
97
Concord
Utilities
126
Cambridge
97
Concord
Transportation
105
Cambridge
92
Concord
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
104
Concord

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $40,449 in Concord.

Conversely, $75,000 in Concord equals $139,063 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Concord

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Concord's 89, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $380,000. The $510,000 difference in home prices means roughly $33,156 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,350/mo in Concord, a monthly difference of $1,750.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 97 in Concord. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $461/month in Concord. Concord offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 97 in Concord. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $388 in Concord. 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 118 in Cambridge and 104 in Concord. 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 $103,154 in Cambridge and $86,900 in Concord. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $90,521 respectively. Concord residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $2,028/month in Concord. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Concord, median rent of $1,350/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 191 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Concord is 85.4% more affordable overall with an index of 96 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $40,449 in Concord, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Concord's is 89 with median homes at $380,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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