Massachusetts “Living Wage Calculator”, What’s Needed to Live in 2026

There is a lot to love about living in Massachusetts. From its iconic Cape Cod beaches to the bustling Boston metro area and all the way to the peaceful hills of the Berkshires. Massachusetts truly has something for everyone.

Whether you were born and raised in Massachusetts, or are a transplant to the best state in New England, you know all it has to offer.

Massachusetts boasts a strong economy, affordable living, excellent public schools, and an overall high quality of life. The state has been highlighted as one of the best states to live in the US several times, by publications like US News and World Reports, Niche, and CBS News.

While the quality of life in Massachusetts might be great, it can also cost a pretty penny.

Every year Massachusetts Institute of Technology publishes a Living Wage Calculator to asses how much families of varying sizes would need to live. The calculator analyzes the costs of food, housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, taxes, and more basic bills and then calculates a number that folks need to make to cover those expenses.

After adjusting the formula to reflect the cost of living in Massachusetts in 2026, on average a person living with no children would need to earn at least $30.58 an hour to cover typical expenses.

In looking at western Massachusetts communities specifically, folks in the Springfield area would, on average, need to make $24.06 per hour, $26.31 per hour in the Amherst/Northampton, and $25.05 per hour in Pittsfield.

You can find the MIT Living Wage calculator here.