City Comparison
Cambridge vs Cincinnati
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Cambridge scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Cambridge
Cincinnati
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Cincinnati is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
42% lower than in Cambridge.
Housing costs are a major driver: Cambridge's average rent is
120% higher than Cincinnati's.
| Metric | Cambridge | Cincinnati | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $3,100 | $1,410 | +120% |
| Groceries | $520 | $493 | +5% |
| Utilities | $210 | $178 | +18% |
| Transport | $100 | $120 | -17% |
| Healthcare | $280 | $250 | +12% |
| Monthly Total | $4,210 | $2,451 | +72% |
| Cost Index | 165 | 103 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Cambridge offers 16% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Cincinnati delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Cambridge is estimated at
$85,000 vs $55,000 in Cincinnati.
| Metric | Cambridge | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $92,000 | $79,000 |
| Salary Needed | $85,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 55,758 idx | 76,699 idx |
| Household Income | $118,500 | $52,909 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Cambridge runs warmer on average — a 51°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Cambridge comes out ahead with 250 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Cambridge sees 25 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Cambridge | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 51.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 80.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 20.60°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 40.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 25.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 250 | |
| Humidity | 64.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Cincinnati has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Cambridge.
Cambridge scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Cambridge leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Cambridge | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 91.0/100 | 49.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 58.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Cincinnati is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Cambridge.
From a growth perspective, Cambridge is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Cambridge | Cincinnati |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 118,258 | 314,915 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.80% | 0.70% |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.20% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Cambridge
Advantages
World-class public transit and pedestrian infrastructure with a Walk Score over 90 per Redfin 2025 data
Global epicenter for biotechnology and life sciences careers centered around Kendall Square per BLS 2025 reports
Home to two top-tier global universities (Harvard and MIT) driving an intellectually vibrant cultural scene
Exceptionally low violent crime rate relative to national urban averages per FBI crime data 2025
Extensive green spaces, including miles of accessible waterfront along the Charles River Esplanade
Drawbacks
Extremely high cost of living, with average rents exceeding 3,000 USD per Zillow 2025 market reports
Severe housing shortage and hyper-competitive real estate market driving up purchase prices
Heavy traffic congestion and limited street parking for vehicle owners
State and local tax burdens that trend higher than the national average
Significant seasonal population fluctuations driven by the academic calendar
Cincinnati
Advantages
The cost of living in Cincinnati is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many major U.S. cities.
Cincinnati boasts a diverse and growing economy, with strong sectors in healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
The city offers a vibrant arts and culture scene, including museums, theaters, and a symphony orchestra.
Several neighborhoods, such as Over-The-Rhine and the Central Business District, are highly walkable, with Walk Scores of 94 and 92 respectively.
The median property value in Cincinnati was $230,900 in 2024, significantly lower than the national average, making homeownership more accessible.
Drawbacks
While some areas are highly walkable, the city's overall Walk Score of 49 indicates a car-dependent environment for most errands.
Public transportation, while available, is not considered the most dependable, often necessitating a personal vehicle.
The city's poverty rate was 25.5% in 2024, which is higher than the national average.
Cincinnati experiences extreme seasonal variations in humidity, with muggy summers and very cold, snowy winters.
The average commute time in the Cincinnati metropolitan area was 2 hours daily in 2023, which is relatively long compared to some other cities.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Cambridge
#424Massachusetts, USA
57.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,100
Avg Salary
$92,000
Cost Index
165
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
85.0/100
Walkability
91.0/100
Sunny Days
250/yr
Avg Temp
51.00°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
92
Cincinnati
#501Ohio, USA
52.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,410
Avg Salary
$79,000
Cost Index
103
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
49.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
70
Business
72
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Cambridge and Cincinnati.
Open Cost Calculator