Is Cambridge really cheaper than Sunnyvale, CA?

Based on typical 1-bedroom rent, Cambridge is approximately 83% cheaper than Sunnyvale, CA. Overall cost of living including rent follows a similar pattern.

What is the average rent in Cambridge vs Sunnyvale, CA?

In Cambridge, a 1-bedroom in the city centre costs around $1,800. In Sunnyvale, CA, the same costs around $3,293.

What is the FIRE Score for Cambridge?

Rewire Abroad gives Cambridge a FIRE Score of 55/100, meaning it is moderately viable for FIRE seekers.

Is Cambridge good for digital nomads?

Rewire Abroad gives Cambridge a Nomad Score of 0/100. Internet speeds average 75Mbps.

Is Sunnyvale, CA or Cambridge safer?

Based on the Safety Index, Cambridge scores higher at 80 vs Sunnyvale, CA's 75.64.

Can I retire in Canada as a foreigner?

Many foreigners retire in Canada. We recommend checking visa options and consulting an expat tax specialist.

Compare Cities

Sunnyvale, CA vs Cambridge

Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo

Sunnyvale, CAOverall winner

Cambridge is approximately 83% less expensive than Sunnyvale, CA based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cambridge a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Cambridge has a FIRE Score of 55/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Cambridge is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Side by side

Best in row

United States

Sunnyvale, CA

Nomad76

Canada

Cambridge

Normal Precautions

Nomad70

Cost

Cost of living index

105.4

78.4

One person, excluding rent

$1,634/mo

$1,215/mo

Family of four, excluding rent

$5,902/mo

$4,390/mo

Total monthly, rent included

$4,043/mo

$4,200/mo

Monthly savings

-$1,043/mo

-$1,200/mo

Housing

1BR, city centre

$3,293

$1,800

1BR, outside centre

$2,913

$1,450

3BR, city centre

$5,948

$3,500

3BR, outside centre

$4,240

$2,800

Scores

FIRE score

22/100

53/100

Nomad score

55/100

50/100

Retiree score

50/100

56/100

Overall score

76/100

70/100

Safety & infrastructure

Safety index

75.6

Internet speed

200 Mbps

75 Mbps

Walkability score

Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.

About these cities

About Sunnyvale, CA

Sunnyvale is a pricey slice of Silicon Valley where a one-bedroom downtown runs $3,293/mo and a family of four spends $5,600/mo before rent, yet the average net salary of $8,659/mo and a safety index of 85/100 keep it firmly in play for tech workers. The cost of living index of 105 against NYC's 100 is gentler than San Francisco, and a large, active expat community plus excellent healthcare and 200 Mbps internet make settling in painless. Retirees should look elsewhere given a retiree score of 51/100, but digital nomads and FIRE-minded savers get a respectable 75/100 and a punishing 39/100 respectively. Come for the jobs and the year-round Mediterranean climate, stay if your salary clears the bar.

About United States

Best for families seeking high English proficiency and excellent air travel access, with no retiree or digital nomad visa available. Internet speed of 390.28 Mbps and a large expat community support remote work, but the cost of living index is 100 (global baseline). Key trade-off: no retirement or digital nomad visa, and a complex pathway to residency or citizenship limits long-term stays.

Cambridge costs roughly 34% less than Sunnyvale, CA. Sunnyvale, CA leads on digital nomad infrastructure, with faster average internet speeds. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

Household

Lifestyle

Monthly income (USD)

Schooling

Cambridge is approximately 83% less expensive than Sunnyvale, CA based on cost of living including rent. This makes Cambridge a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Cambridge has a FIRE Score of 55/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 80, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Cambridge is well-suited for retirees seeking a balanced lifestyle.

Overall Winner

Sunnyvale, CA

United States

Nomad76

About Sunnyvale, CA

About United States

MONTHLY DEFICIT

$-1,043/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$1,634/mo

Family of Four$5,902/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$3,293

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$2,913

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$5,948

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$4,240

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

22/100

Retiree Score

50/100

Nomad Score

55/100

City Details

Cambridge

Canada

Normal Precautions

Nomad70

About Cambridge

Cambridge is a small, safe Ontario city where a single adult can live on $3,000/mo, though a city-centre one-bedroom at $1,800/mo eats most of that budget. The 78/100 cost of living index and 80/100 safety index make it a reasonable base for digital nomads scoring 69/100, but FIRE chasers at 55/100 will find the math tight. With a medium expat community and English widely spoken, it works for families and remote workers who value quiet over buzz.

About Canada

Canada taxes hard: expect 33% federal plus up to 21.8% provincial, a real drag on FIRE math. A retirement visa exists, so retirees do have a potential entry path, though it's not always straightforward. But remote workers and digital nomads should look past this, given a 9/10 expat friendliness score and 379.96 Mbps average internet. A 1BR apartment averaging $1,304.56/mo confirms the tax hit is the real cost center here, not rent.

MONTHLY DEFICIT

$-1,200/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$1,215/mo

Family of Four$4,390/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$1,800

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$1,450

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$3,500

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$2,800

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

53/100

Retiree Score

56/100

Nomad Score

50/100

City Details

Send money between United States and Canada with real exchange rates

Avoid hidden bank fees when moving money internationally. Wise uses the mid-market rate.

Compare transfer costs →

Which visa fits your move?

Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.

Compare visas for these countries

Browse all visa comparisons

Battle of Lifestyles

Scroll to compare

Metric	Sunnyvale, CA	Cambridge
1BR Apartment (Center)	$3292.5	$1800
1BR Apartment (Outside)	$2912.5	$1450
3BR Apartment (Center)	$5948.33	$3500
3BR Apartment (Outside)	$4240	$2800
Safety Index	75.64	80
Internet Speed	200Mbps	75Mbps
Walkability Score	N/A	N/A

Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices

Category	Sunnyvale, CA	Cambridge
Total (rent included)	$4,037/mo	N/A
Excluding rent	$1,124/mo	N/A
Rent	$2,913/mo	N/A
Groceries	$290/mo	N/A
Dining out	$240/mo	N/A
Entertainment & lifestyle	$146/mo	N/A
Utilities & connectivity	$358/mo	N/A
Transport	$90.00/mo	N/A

Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.

🛂

Planning a move to Cambridge? Make sure you have the right visa.

Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.

Find my visa →

Compare any two visa routes.

Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including Canada and United States.

Compare visas →