Studio Apartment Rent in Salem, MA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Salem, Massachusetts as of August 2026. That's +27% lower than the citywide median of $2,730 and +55% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Salem
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Salem
Compare Salem's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Massachusetts
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicopee | $970 |
| 2 | Holyoke | $970 |
| 3 | Westfield | $1,000 |
| 4 | Gardner | $1,010 |
| 5 | New Bedford | $1,030 |
| 6 | Springfield | $1,055 |
| 7 | Fairhaven | $1,060 |
| 8 | Fitchburg | $1,080 |
| 9 | Pittsfield | $1,120 |
| 10 | Spencer | $1,160 |
| 11 | Ware | $1,160 |
| 12 | Webster | $1,160 |
| 13 | Fall River | $1,170 |
| 14 | Leominster | $1,190 |
| 15 | Lawrence | $1,290 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Massachusetts
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $3,360 |
| 2 | Wellesley | $3,180 |
| 3 | Brookline | $3,133 |
| 4 | Cambridge | $3,080 |
| 5 | Concord | $2,780 |
| 6 | Wilmington | $2,690 |
| 7 | Somerville | $2,633 |
| 8 | Burlington | $2,580 |
| 9 | Bedford | $2,580 |
| 10 | Belmont | $2,570 |
| 11 | Boston | $2,544 |
| 12 | Ashland | $2,500 |
| 13 | Winchester | $2,470 |
| 14 | Swampscott | $2,470 |
| 15 | Medford | $2,470 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Salem.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marblehead, MA | 1.8 mi | $2,020 | +$20 (+1%) |
| Swampscott, MA | 4.3 mi | $2,470 | +$470 (+24%) |
| Danvers, MA | 6.5 mi | $2,090 | +$90 (+5%) |
| Peabody, MA | 6.9 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Lynn, MA | 7.1 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Saugus, MA | 10.6 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Revere, MA | 11.6 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Lynnfield, MA | 11.6 mi | $2,410 | +$410 (+21%) |
| Winthrop, MA | 12.7 mi | $2,010 | +$10 (+1%) |
| Wakefield, MA | 13.7 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Chelsea, MA | 14.1 mi | $2,000 | — |
| Malden, MA | 14.5 mi | $2,290 | +$290 (+14%) |
Studio rent in Salem — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Salem?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Salem, Massachusetts is $2,000 per month. This is +27% below the citywide median of $2,730.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Salem?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $80,000 ($6,667/month gross), which works out to roughly $38.46/hour at a full-time job.
Is Salem expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Salem's studio median of $2,000 is +55% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 87th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Salem rank for studio rent in Massachusetts?
Among the 111 cities in Massachusetts with studio data, Salem ranks #58 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Salem?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Salem.