City Comparison

Cambridge vs Hampton

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Hampton

Virginia
88
Below Average
$243,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$59,400
Median Income

The Verdict

102.3%

Hampton is 102.3% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $37,079 in Hampton to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
102
Hampton
Groceries
110
Cambridge
94
Hampton
Utilities
126
Cambridge
102
Hampton
Transportation
105
Cambridge
93
Hampton
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
106
Hampton

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $37,079 in Hampton.

Conversely, $75,000 in Hampton equals $151,705 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Hampton

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Hampton's 102, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $243,000. The $647,000 difference in home prices means roughly $42,060 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,175/mo in Hampton, a monthly difference of $1,925.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 94 in Hampton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $447/month in Hampton. Hampton offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $912/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 102 in Hampton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $408 in Hampton. 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 106 in Hampton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-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 $59,400 in Hampton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $67,500 respectively. Hampton 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 $1,386/month in Hampton. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Hampton, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 178 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hampton is 102.3% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $37,079 in Hampton, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Hampton's is 102 with median homes at $243,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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