What it actually costs to live in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts’s cost-of-living index sits at 125 on the MERIC composite (national average = 100), ranking #5 of 51 jurisdictions for cost. That means a standard basket of goods + services in Massachusetts costs about 25% MORE than the US average. Median home price: $465,000. Population-weighted median rent across metros: $2,414/mo.
Massachusetts cost components
| Component | Massachusetts | National avg |
|---|---|---|
| COL index (basket) | 125 | 100 |
| Median home price | $465,000 | ~$420,000 |
| Median rent (pop-weighted) | $2,414/mo | ~$1,850/mo |
| Commute cost (proxy) | $240/mo | ~$185/mo |
Commute cost = avg metro commute minutes × $0.18/min × 2 trips × 22 work days. Refined BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey integration tracked for v1.
How Massachusetts compares
Of all 51 US jurisdictions, Massachusetts ranks #5 for cost. That puts Massachusetts among the 10 most expensive — driven primarily by housing constraint and high-wage demand. For the live state-vs-state heat map see the interactive cost-of-living map.
Massachusetts metros — city-level cost
State averages hide major intra-state variation. Boston has very different housing dynamics than smaller Massachusetts metros. Click any city for the full home affordability breakdown.
- BostonCOL 162 · home $680,000rent $2,750/mo →
- WorcesterCOL 116 · home $380,000rent $1,650/mo →
- SpringfieldCOL 98 · home $275,000rent $1,150/mo →
- LowellCOL 118 · home $425,000rent $1,650/mo →
- CambridgeCOL 178 · home $925,000rent $3,100/mo →
More Massachusetts metros coming as we expand city coverage.
Massachusetts cost of living — common questions
What is the cost of living in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's MERIC cost-of-living index is 125 (national average = 100). That means a typical basket of goods + services in Massachusetts costs about 25% more than the US average.
What is the median home price in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's state-level median home price is approximately $465,000 (Census ACS 2024). Metros vary significantly — see the top-metro list below for city-level breakdowns.
What is the median rent in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts's population-weighted median rent across metros in our dataset is approximately $2,414/mo. Major-metro rents typically run 30-80% above this state-level average.
Are there any Massachusetts-specific cost-of-living quirks?
Boston metro home prices average ~$700k; Cambridge/Brookline routinely exceed $1.2M. MA has the most expensive childcare in the US (~$25k/yr full-time infant care).
Reviewed by CalcFi Editorial · COL source: MERIC quarterly; home + rent: Census ACS 2024. Last verified 2026-04-19.