City Comparison

Cambridge vs Peoria

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Peoria

Illinois
76
Very Affordable
$164,000
Median Home
$1,000/mo
Median Rent
$58,700
Median Income

The Verdict

134.2%

Living in Peoria costs 134.2% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cambridge, you would need $32,022 in Peoria.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
42
Peoria
Groceries
110
Cambridge
97
Peoria
Utilities
126
Cambridge
103
Peoria
Transportation
105
Cambridge
108
Peoria
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
107
Peoria

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $32,022 in Peoria.

Conversely, $75,000 in Peoria equals $175,658 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Peoria

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Peoria's 42, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $164,000. The $726,000 difference in home prices means roughly $47,196 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,000/mo in Peoria, a monthly difference of $2,100.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 97 in Peoria. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $461/month in Peoria. Peoria offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $744/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 103 in Peoria. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $412 in Peoria. 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 107 in Peoria. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 11-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 $58,700 in Peoria. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $77,237 respectively. Peoria 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 $1,370/month in Peoria. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Peoria, median rent of $1,000/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 238 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Peoria is 134.2% more affordable overall with an index of 76 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $32,022 in Peoria, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Peoria's is 42 with median homes at $164,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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