Salary Needed to Live in Cambridge as a Single
A single adult living independently needs approximately $99,174/year to live comfortably in Cambridge, MA, including 10% savings.
Direct Answer
A single person needs about $99,174/year to live comfortably in Cambridge, MA. The bare-minimum salary is $85,400/year, but the comfortable figure includes a 10% savings target and a monthly after-tax budget of $5,785.
The minimum scenario leaves about $5,124/mo after tax and no planned savings. The comfortable scenario uses $8,265/mo gross pay to cover expenses, taxes, and a savings buffer.
Hybrid salary estimateBLS, HUD, ACS inputsLast verified May 2026
Comfortable Salary
$99,174
with 10% savings
Bare Minimum
$85,400
$7,117/mo gross, no savings buffer
Monthly Expenses
$5,124
42% above national avg
Detailed Monthly Budget for a Single in Cambridge
| Expense | Cambridge | Nat'l Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio/1BR Rent | $1,922 | $1,351 | +42% |
| Groceries | $386 | $207 | +86% |
| Utilities | $254 | $169 | +50% |
| Transportation | $429 | $316 | +36% |
| Car Insurance | $247 | $229 | +8% |
| Health Insurance | $802 | $690 | +16% |
| Internet | $109 | $65 | +68% |
| Phone | $143 | $85 | +68% |
| Dining & Social | $504 | $300 | +68% |
| Entertainment | $202 | $120 | +68% |
| Personal Care | $126 | $75 | +68% |
| Total Monthly | $5,124 | $3,607 | +42% |
How We Calculated the Salary
Monthly expenses:$5,124
Target savings (10%):$661/mo
Monthly after-tax needed:$5,785
Effective tax rate:28%
Gross annual salary needed:$99,174
What Drives the Salary Number?
Housing
$1,922
Studio/1BR rent is 38% of this monthly budget.
Taxes
28%
Estimated federal plus MA state tax reserve used to convert take-home needs into gross salary.
Savings target
10%
$661/mo is reserved for savings so the salary is not just break-even.
Local index
168/100
Cambridge is well above the national baseline; the model adjusts baseline spending by local rent and cost data.
Compare Salary Needed in Nearby northeast Cities
Salary Planning Checklist
- Keep studio/1br housing near $1,922/mo or adjust the salary target upward.
- Budget $1,084/mo for persona-specific costs such as Internet and Phone.
- Use $85,400/year as the survival floor and $99,174/year as the healthier negotiation target.
Other Household Types in Cambridge
Related Pages
FAQ
What salary does a single person need in Cambridge?
A single person needs approximately $99,174/year ($8,265/month gross) to live comfortably in Cambridge with a 10% savings rate.
How much is rent for a single person in Cambridge?
A studio/1br in Cambridge costs approximately $1,922/month, which is the largest single expense at 38% of the total budget.
Is Cambridge affordable for a single person?
Cambridge is above the national average for single person living costs, requiring 42% more salary than the US median.