CostIndexUSA

Ontario, CA vs Worcester, MA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CA
Ontario
106.4
overall index
$2,475/mo rent
More AffordableMA
Worcester
102.5
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Worcester is slightly cheaper than Ontario — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Ontario, you would need $77,100 in Worcester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing12.6%
Ontario
129.3
Worcester
113
🛒 Groceries4.3%
Ontario
101.4
Worcester
97
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Ontario
106.3
Worcester
106.3
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Ontario
96.2
Worcester
96.1
Utilities+4.4%
Ontario
148.6
Worcester
155.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Ontario to see what you'd need to earn in Worcester to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Worcester, MA
$77,100
$2,900 less needed in Worcester

Formula: salary × (102.5 ÷ 106.4) = salary × 0.9633. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Ontario, CA

Median Home Price
$576,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,475
Housing Index
129.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Worcester, MA

Median Home Price
$461,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
113
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Ontario has 12.6% lower housing costs compared to Worcester.

Income & Job Market

Ontario, CA

Median Household Income
$87,800
Per Capita Income
$50,000
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
175,265
Top Industries
LogisticsHealthcareManufacturingRetailFinance

Worcester, MA

Median Household Income
$94,100
Per Capita Income
$53,600
Unemployment Rate
4%
Population
206,518
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationManufacturingFinanceTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Ontario, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

66% of income left after rent (median)

Worcester, MA
3.8×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.