City Comparison

Cambridge vs Tyler

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Tyler

Texas
85
Very Affordable
$250,000
Median Home
$1,075/mo
Median Rent
$54,800
Median Income

The Verdict

109.4%

Tyler is 109.4% less expensive than Cambridge overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cambridge would need approximately $35,815 in Tyler to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
69
Tyler
Groceries
110
Cambridge
96
Tyler
Utilities
126
Cambridge
97
Tyler
Transportation
105
Cambridge
92
Tyler
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
93
Tyler

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $35,815 in Tyler.

Conversely, $75,000 in Tyler equals $157,059 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Tyler

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Tyler's 69, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $250,000. The $640,000 difference in home prices means roughly $41,604 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $1,075/mo in Tyler, a monthly difference of $2,025.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 96 in Tyler. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $456/month in Tyler. Tyler offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $804/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 97 in Tyler. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $388 in Tyler. 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 93 in Tyler. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 25-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 $54,800 in Tyler. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $64,471 respectively. Tyler 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 $1,279/month in Tyler. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Tyler, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 211 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tyler is 109.4% more affordable overall with an index of 85 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $35,815 in Tyler, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Tyler's is 69 with median homes at $250,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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