Cost of Living in Massachusetts
Updated November 2026 · population 7,044,056
Massachusetts prices are 5.8% above the US average (index 105.8), ranking 7th most expensive of 51 states and DC; utilities is the biggest cost driver at 152.1, and a single adult's modelled budget at state-average prices is about $3,088 a month.
Prices by category
Massachusetts price index by category, US average = 100: All items 105.8, Housing (rents) 128.1, Goods 98.8, Utilities 152.1, Other services 102.9
| Area | All items |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts (whole state) | 105.8 |
| Metropolitan areas of Massachusetts | 105.9 |
| Nonmetropolitan areas of Massachusetts | 98.6 |
Cities in Massachusetts
Select a column heading to sort.
| Boston | 666,442 | 111.8 | $3,718 | $6,405 | $2,147 | $731,700 |
| Worcester | 207,055 | 103.3 | $2,717 | $5,645 | $1,487 | $374,400 |
| Springfield | 154,749 | 95.1 | $2,593 | $5,119 | $1,144 | $245,000 |
| Cambridge | 118,796 | 120.3 | $4,321 | $7,682 | $2,787 | $1,092,100 |
| Lowell | 118,368 | 104.9 | $2,995 | $5,945 | $1,625 | $429,200 |
| Brockton | 105,386 | 105.1 | $3,056 | $5,789 | $1,641 | $437,500 |
| Quincy | 102,114 | 111.4 | $3,584 | $6,523 | $2,118 | $618,500 |
| Lynn | 101,709 | 106.2 | $2,733 | $5,996 | $1,722 | $510,100 |
| New Bedford | 100,998 | 98.2 | $2,465 | $5,114 | $1,137 | $357,300 |
| Fall River | 94,082 | 98.4 | $2,470 | $5,142 | $1,155 | $395,500 |
| Newton | 89,044 | 114.8 | $3,472 | $7,283 | $2,370 | $1,264,900 |
| Lawrence | 88,736 | 105.4 | $2,798 | $5,803 | $1,662 | $415,200 |
| Somerville | 81,036 | 116.7 | $3,849 | $7,286 | $2,517 | $911,300 |
| Framingham | 72,399 | 110.3 | $3,320 | $6,340 | $2,033 | $627,300 |
| Haverhill | 67,698 | 105.5 | $3,027 | $5,783 | $1,668 | $453,900 |
| Malden | 65,906 | 112.6 | $3,571 | $6,501 | $2,204 | $633,500 |
| Waltham | 64,902 | 113.4 | $3,603 | $7,128 | $2,268 | $748,700 |
| Brookline | 63,266 | 120.9 | $4,299 | $7,788 | $2,835 | $1,246,800 |
| Taunton | 60,433 | 100.8 | $2,629 | $5,561 | $1,324 | $422,800 |
| Revere | 60,012 | 110.9 | $3,535 | $6,598 | $2,076 | $597,400 |
| Medford | 59,354 | 116.6 | $3,624 | $6,951 | $2,509 | $755,500 |
| Weymouth Town | 58,505 | 109.1 | $3,407 | $6,265 | $1,941 | $552,100 |
| Chicopee | 55,295 | 95.2 | $2,542 | $5,331 | $1,157 | $274,500 |
| Peabody | 54,695 | 109.2 | $3,567 | $6,406 | $1,950 | $596,200 |
| Methuen | 53,475 | 106.6 | $2,750 | $6,105 | $1,749 | $499,700 |
| Everett | 50,045 | 110.9 | $3,300 | $6,278 | $2,076 | $610,000 |
| Leominster | 43,909 | 101.3 | $2,781 | $5,370 | $1,354 | $380,400 |
| Nantucket resort/outlier | 10,017 | 108.0 | $3,550 | $6,435 | $2,228 | $1,465,300 |
Metro areas in Massachusetts
| Metro area | All items | Housing |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 108.3 | 148.4 |
| Worcester, MA | 102.5 | 113.0 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 101.8 | 103.9 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | 100.2 | 97.5 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | 98.4 | 90.0 |
| Springfield, MA | 96.1 | 75.8 |
| Pittsfield, MA | 95.1 | 73.5 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for metropolitan statistical areas that include part of Massachusetts.
Modelled monthly budget at Massachusetts average prices
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Massachusetts (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,258 | $15,096 | 41% |
| Utilities | $367 | $4,404 | 12% |
| Food at home | $279 | $3,348 | 9% |
| Transportation | $655 | $7,860 | 21% |
| Health care | $362 | $4,344 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $167 | $2,004 | 5% |
| Total | $3,088 | $37,056 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Massachusetts (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,669 | $20,028 | 33% |
| Utilities | $587 | $7,044 | 12% |
| Food at home | $515 | $6,180 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,297 | $15,564 | 26% |
| Health care | $670 | $8,040 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $329 | $3,948 | 6% |
| Total | $5,067 | $60,804 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Massachusetts (state average)
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,735 | $20,820 | 29% |
| Utilities | $714 | $8,568 | 12% |
| Food at home | $734 | $8,808 | 12% |
| Transportation | $1,723 | $20,676 | 29% |
| Health care | $624 | $7,488 | 10% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $424 | $5,088 | 7% |
| Total | $5,954 | $71,448 | 100% |
state figures Rents are Census ACS state medians by bedrooms. See the methodology.
Electricity and gas and inflation
Residential electricity
30.48¢/kWh, August 2026
12-month change −0.2% · US 18.16¢
Regular gasoline
$4.10/gal, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change +40.9% · US $4.15
Consumer prices in the Northeast region rose +4.2% over the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%; BLS CPI-U).
Price level history
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 107.2 | 109.1 | 106.7 | 109.4 | 107.7 | 105.8 |
Change over the period: −1.4 points. Each year is measured relative to that year's US average.
Frequently asked questions
Is Massachusetts an expensive state to live in?
Massachusetts has a cost of living index of 105.8 (US = 100), 5.8% above the US average. It ranks 7th of 51 (1 = most expensive). Housing is 128.1 (rank 4), goods 98.8, utilities 152.1 and other services 102.9. Source: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024.
How much does it cost to live in Massachusetts?
At Massachusetts state-average prices, our modelled monthly budget is $3,088 for a single adult, $5,067 for a couple and $5,954 for a family of four, before taxes and child care. Costs vary widely within the state: metro areas average 105.9 and nonmetro areas 98.6.
What is the median rent and home value in Massachusetts?
The median gross rent in Massachusetts is $1,762 a month and the median home value is $562,100 (Census ACS 2020-2024). The typical renter spends 30.9% of income on rent.
Sources
- BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 (state, state metro and nonmetro portions, MSAs).
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, state 25.
- EIA-861M residential electricity (August 2026); EIA weekly retail gasoline (Massachusetts, 2026-11-02).
- BLS CPI-U, Northeast region (September 2026).
Budgets are modelled estimates, not observed spending. Not financial advice. Methodology