City Comparison

Cambridge vs Fishers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

The Verdict

67.9%

Fishers is 67.9% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $44,663 in Fishers to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
120
Fishers
Groceries
110
Cambridge
99
Fishers
Utilities
126
Cambridge
100
Fishers
Transportation
105
Cambridge
102
Fishers
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
99
Fishers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $44,663 in Fishers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Fishers equals $125,943 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Fishers

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Fishers's 120, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $391,000. The $499,000 difference in home prices means roughly $32,436 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,475/mo in Fishers, a monthly difference of $1,625.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 99 in Fishers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $470/month in Fishers. Fishers offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $636/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 100 in Fishers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $400 in Fishers. 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 99 in Fishers. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 19-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 $130,200 in Fishers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $122,830 respectively. Fishers 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 $3,038/month in Fishers. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 160 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fishers is 67.9% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $44,663 in Fishers, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Fishers's is 120 with median homes at $391,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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