Cambridge vs Lowell
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cambridge
Lowell
The Verdict
Living in Lowell costs 35.9% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cambridge, you would need $55,197 in Lowell.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $55,197 in Lowell.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lowell equals $101,908 in Cambridge.
Living in Cambridge vs Lowell
Housing Costs
Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Lowell's 152, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $429,000. The $461,000 difference in home prices means roughly $29,964 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,925/mo in Lowell, a monthly difference of $1,175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 104 in Lowell. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $494/month in Lowell. Lowell offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 151 in Lowell. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $604 in Lowell. 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 118 in Lowell. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $103,154 in Cambridge and $79,700 in Lowell. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $60,840 respectively. Lowell 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 $1,860/month in Lowell. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Lowell, median rent of $1,925/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 128 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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