How much rent can you afford in Cambridge, MA?
Run your salary against Cambridge's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Cambridge
At a median rent of $3,559/mo, Cambridge is moderately stretched when measured against Cambridge median household income of $130,748/yr. Rent would consume roughly 33% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $142,360 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Cambridge compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Cambridge?
On a $130,748 salary (the Cambridge median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $3,269/mo. Cambridge's median rent is $3,559/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Cambridge?
To keep Cambridge's $3,559/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $142,360/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Cambridge affordable on the median Massachusetts income?
Cambridge is moderately stretched on a $130,748 income. Rent would take 33% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".