Cambridge vs New Bedford
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cambridge
New Bedford
The Verdict
New Bedford is 58.9% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $47,191 in New Bedford to maintain the same standard of living.
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 $47,191 in New Bedford.
Conversely, $75,000 in New Bedford equals $119,196 in Cambridge.
Living in Cambridge vs New Bedford
Housing Costs
Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher New Bedford's 116, 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 $1,225/mo in New Bedford, a monthly difference of $1,875.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 104 in New Bedford. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $494/month in New Bedford. New Bedford 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 145 in New Bedford. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $580 in New Bedford. 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 New Bedford. 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 $57,000 in New Bedford. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $50,893 respectively. Cambridge residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,407/month to housing in Cambridge vs $1,330/month in New Bedford. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In New Bedford, median rent of $1,225/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 164 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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