City Comparison

Cambridge vs Green Bay

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Green Bay

Wisconsin
86
Below Average
$235,000
Median Home
$950/mo
Median Rent
$55,200
Median Income

The Verdict

107.0%

Green Bay is 107.0% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $36,236 in Green Bay to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
72
Green Bay
Groceries
110
Cambridge
98
Green Bay
Utilities
126
Cambridge
84
Green Bay
Transportation
105
Cambridge
102
Green Bay
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
96
Green Bay

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $36,236 in Green Bay.

Conversely, $75,000 in Green Bay equals $155,233 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Green Bay

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Green Bay's 72, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $235,000. The $655,000 difference in home prices means roughly $42,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $950/mo in Green Bay, a monthly difference of $2,150.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 98 in Green Bay. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $466/month in Green Bay. Green Bay offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 84 in Green Bay. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $336 in Green Bay. 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 96 in Green Bay. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 22-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 $55,200 in Green Bay. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $64,186 respectively. Green Bay 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 $1,288/month in Green Bay. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Green Bay, median rent of $950/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 208 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Green Bay is 107.0% more affordable overall with an index of 86 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $36,236 in Green Bay, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Green Bay's is 72 with median homes at $235,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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