City Comparison

Cambridge vs Toledo

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Toledo

Ohio
77
Very Affordable
$128,000
Median Home
$825/mo
Median Rent
$42,200
Median Income

The Verdict

131.2%

Living in Toledo costs 131.2% less than Cambridge. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cambridge, you would need $32,444 in Toledo.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
55
Toledo
Groceries
110
Cambridge
98
Toledo
Utilities
126
Cambridge
92
Toledo
Transportation
105
Cambridge
101
Toledo
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
84
Toledo

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $32,444 in Toledo.

Conversely, $75,000 in Toledo equals $173,377 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Toledo

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Toledo's 55, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $128,000. The $762,000 difference in home prices means roughly $49,536 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $825/mo in Toledo, a monthly difference of $2,275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 98 in Toledo. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $466/month in Toledo. Toledo offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $684/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 92 in Toledo. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $368 in Toledo. 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 84 in Toledo. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 34-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 $42,200 in Toledo. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $54,805 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 $985/month in Toledo. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Toledo, median rent of $825/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 225 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toledo is 131.2% more affordable overall with an index of 77 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $32,444 in Toledo, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Toledo's is 55 with median homes at $128,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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