City Comparison

Cambridge vs Ogden

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Ogden

Utah
107
Above Average
$385,000
Median Home
$1,250/mo
Median Rent
$70,100
Median Income

The Verdict

66.4%

Ogden is 66.4% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $45,084 in Ogden to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
112
Ogden
Groceries
110
Cambridge
92
Ogden
Utilities
126
Cambridge
80
Ogden
Transportation
105
Cambridge
101
Ogden
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
91
Ogden

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $45,084 in Ogden.

Conversely, $75,000 in Ogden equals $124,766 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Ogden

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Ogden's 112, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $385,000. The $505,000 difference in home prices means roughly $32,820 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 Ogden, a monthly difference of $1,850.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 92 in Ogden. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $437/month in Ogden. Ogden offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $1032/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 80 in Ogden. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $320 in Ogden. 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 91 in Ogden. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 27-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 $70,100 in Ogden. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $65,514 respectively. Ogden 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 $1,636/month in Ogden. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Ogden, median rent of $1,250/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 168 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ogden is 66.4% more affordable overall with an index of 107 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $45,084 in Ogden, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Ogden's is 112 with median homes at $385,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases