2025 Compare Cities Cost of Living:
Cambridge, MA vs Palo Alto, CA

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Highlights
Is it cheaper to live in Palo Alto or is it cheaper to live in Cambridge?
- Palo Alto is 59.6% more expensive than Cambridge.

Which city has more affordable housing, Palo Alto or Cambridge?
- Palo Alto housing costs are 254.6% more expensive than Cambridge housing costs.

Is Health Care more affordable in Cambridge or is Health Care more affordable in Palo Alto.
- Health related expenses are 20.7% more in Palo Alto.
 Cambridge, MAPalo Alto, CAUnited States
 Overall  Unlock231.0100
 Food & Groceries115.5  Unlock100
 Health  Unlock107.7100
 Housing321.4  Unlock100
 Median Home Cost  Unlock$3,107,600$338,100
 Utilities118  Unlock100
 Transportation  Unlock140.6100
 Miscellaneous176.7  Unlock100
100 = National Average (Below 100 means cheaper than the US average. Above 100 means more expensive.)
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Reviews for Cambridge    14 Reviews

Over 10 years ago

Cambridge is a great place to live. It is rather expensive, but has great access to Boston, schools and hospitals. There is a lot of construction underway that can be  More

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Need info on test results on tap or drinking water quality, 02139 Green St area.  More

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Home to both Harvard and MIT, Cambridge is the cornerstone of higher education. Residents are very intelligent and open to new ideas.   More

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Reviews for Palo Alto    8 Reviews

The Bay Area in general, but Palo Alto specifically provides many of the qualities sought by many; the climate is beautiful, there is access to cultural and recreational  More

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Over 17 years ago

Very  More

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Over 18 years ago

VTA and SamsTrans and Caltrain all provide good service and most times frequency of service is  More

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