City Comparison

Cambridge vs Kenosha

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Kenosha

Wisconsin
91
Below Average
$275,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$68,900
Median Income

The Verdict

95.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 95.6%, with Kenosha being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to $38,343 in Kenosha.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
82
Kenosha
Groceries
110
Cambridge
99
Kenosha
Utilities
126
Cambridge
95
Kenosha
Transportation
105
Cambridge
103
Kenosha
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
96
Kenosha

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $38,343 in Kenosha.

Conversely, $75,000 in Kenosha equals $146,703 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Kenosha

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Kenosha's 82, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $275,000. The $615,000 difference in home prices means roughly $39,972 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,250/mo in Kenosha, a monthly difference of $1,850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 99 in Kenosha. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $470/month in Kenosha. Kenosha 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 95 in Kenosha. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $380 in Kenosha. 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 Kenosha. 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 $68,900 in Kenosha. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $75,714 respectively. Kenosha 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 $1,608/month in Kenosha. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Kenosha, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 198 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Kenosha is 95.6% more affordable overall with an index of 91 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $38,343 in Kenosha, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Kenosha's is 82 with median homes at $275,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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