City Comparison

Cambridge vs Nampa

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Nampa

Idaho
105
Average
$371,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$74,300
Median Income

The Verdict

69.5%

The cost gap between these cities is 69.5%, with Nampa being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to $44,242 in Nampa.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
104
Nampa
Groceries
110
Cambridge
105
Nampa
Utilities
126
Cambridge
83
Nampa
Transportation
105
Cambridge
113
Nampa
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
102
Nampa

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $44,242 in Nampa.

Conversely, $75,000 in Nampa equals $127,143 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Nampa

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Nampa's 104, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $371,000. The $519,000 difference in home prices means roughly $33,732 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,500/mo in Nampa, a monthly difference of $1,600.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 105 in Nampa. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $499/month in Nampa. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 83 in Nampa. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $332 in Nampa. 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 102 in Nampa. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 16-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 $74,300 in Nampa. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $70,762 respectively. Nampa 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 $1,734/month in Nampa. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Nampa, median rent of $1,500/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 176 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nampa is 69.5% more affordable overall with an index of 105 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $44,242 in Nampa, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Nampa's is 104 with median homes at $371,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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