City Comparison

Cambridge vs Yonkers

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cambridge

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

Yonkers

New York
142
Expensive
$635,000
Median Home
$2,200/mo
Median Rent
$80,600
Median Income

The Verdict

25.4%

The cost gap between these cities is 25.4%, with Yonkers being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to $59,831 in Yonkers.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
280
Cambridge
203
Yonkers
Groceries
110
Cambridge
106
Yonkers
Utilities
126
Cambridge
117
Yonkers
Transportation
105
Cambridge
116
Yonkers
Healthcare
118
Cambridge
107
Yonkers

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has the same purchasing power as $59,831 in Yonkers.

Conversely, $75,000 in Yonkers equals $94,014 in Cambridge.

Living in Cambridge vs Yonkers

Housing Costs

Cambridge's housing index of 280 is higher Yonkers's 203, translating to median home prices of $890,000 vs $635,000. The $255,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,572 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $3,100/mo in Cambridge compared to $2,200/mo in Yonkers, a monthly difference of $900.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 110 in Cambridge and 106 in Yonkers. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $523/month in Cambridge vs $504/month in Yonkers. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 126 in Cambridge and 117 in Yonkers. Monthly utility bills average approximately $504 in Cambridge vs $468 in Yonkers. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 118 in Cambridge and 107 in Yonkers. 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 $80,600 in Yonkers. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $57,952 and $56,761 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 $1,881/month in Yonkers. In Cambridge, median rent of $3,100/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Yonkers, median rent of $2,200/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 77 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yonkers is 25.4% more affordable overall with an index of 142 vs 178.
A $75,000 salary in Cambridge has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $59,831 in Yonkers, based on the cost of living difference.
Cambridge's housing index is 280 with median homes at $890,000, while Yonkers's is 203 with median homes at $635,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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