Barnstable Town, Massachusetts
Living in Barnstable Town, Massachusetts is about 35% more expensive than the national average, with a cost of living index of 135 (US = 100). Typical rent is $2,578 a month, 33% above the national figure of $1,932, and regular gas costs $4.07 a gallon versus $3.98 nationally as of November 11, 2026. Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance take about 47% of the area's $96,505 median household income.
Key Numbers
Gas (Regular)
$4.07
National: $3.98
Avg Rent (All)
$2,578
National: $1,932
Grocery Inflation
1.77%
Year-over-year
Fast Food Avg
$17.49
Combo meal
Electricity
30.48¢
per kWh · ~$274/mo
Car Insurance
$157/mo
$1,882/yr
Median Household Income
$96,505
47.4% goes to essentials
Car Insurance
Avg $1,882 in Barnstable Town. Compare rates:
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Avg rent $2,578/mo in Barnstable Town. Browse listings:
Grocery Prices
Grocery Prices — 2000 to Present
National BLS averages · submit local prices below ↓
Eggs (dozen)
Bird flu volatility
$0.97 in 2000 → $2.32 BLS avg
Milk (gallon)
$2.79 in 2000 → $4.10 BLS avg
Ground Beef (lb)
$1.48 in 2000 → $6.75 BLS avg
Bread (loaf)
$0.91 in 2000 → $1.86 BLS avg
Chicken Breast (lb)
$1.06 in 2000 → $2.03 BLS avg
Butter (lb)
$3.98 BLS avg
Bacon (lb)
$2.75 in 2000 → $6.69 BLS avg
Cheddar Cheese (lb)
$3.84 in 2000 → $6.13 BLS avg
Pasta (lb)
$0.88 in 2000 → $1.38 BLS avg
Rice (5 lb)
$2.50 in 2000 → $5.50 BLS avg
Coffee (12 oz)
$2.65 in 2000 → $6.94 BLS avg
Orange Juice (64 oz)
Citrus shortage
$5.42 estimate
Potatoes (5 lb)
$1.96 in 2000 → $4.95 BLS avg
Apples (3 lb)
$5.20 estimate
Tomatoes (lb)
$1.44 in 2000 → $2.08 BLS avg
Lettuce (head)
$0.75 in 2000 → $1.96 BLS avg
Cooking Oil (48 oz)
$7.76 estimate
Yogurt (32 oz)
$4.94 estimate
Cereal (family size)
$6.20 estimate
Frozen Pizza
$8.65 estimate
| Item | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 | 2022 | 2026 | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs (dozen)Bird flu volatility | $0.97 | $1.21 | $1.79 | $2.11 | $1.46 | $1.93 | $2.32 | +137.9% |
| Milk (gallon) | $2.79 | $3.30 | $3.24 | $3.76 | $3.25 | $3.79 | $4.10 | +47.3% |
| Ground Beef (lb) | $1.48 | $2.19 | $2.28 | $4.24 | $3.89 | $4.55 | $6.75 | +355.5% |
| Bread (loaf) | $0.91 | $1.00 | $1.36 | $1.48 | $1.35 | $1.55 | $1.86 | +105.2% |
| Chicken Breast (lb) | $1.06 | $1.03 | $1.26 | $1.55 | $1.41 | $1.62 | $2.03 | +91.3% |
| Butter (lb) | — | — | — | — | $3.86 | $3.67 | $3.98 | -4.2% since 2018 |
| Bacon (lb) | $2.75 | $3.37 | $3.63 | $5.59 | $5.50 | $7.22 | $6.69 | +143.1% |
| Cheddar Cheese (lb) | $3.84 | $4.21 | $4.72 | $5.40 | $5.20 | $5.32 | $6.13 | +59.6% |
| Pasta (lb) | $0.88 | $0.94 | $1.15 | $1.26 | $1.23 | $1.12 | $1.38 | +57.1% |
| Rice (5 lb) | $2.50 | $2.98 | $3.77 | $3.46 | $3.58 | $4.16 | $5.50 | +120.6% |
| Coffee (12 oz) | $2.65 | $2.29 | $2.86 | $3.55 | $3.13 | $3.85 | $6.94 | +161.3% |
| Orange Juice (64 oz)Citrus shortageLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $3.72 | $5.42 | +45.7% since 2022 |
| Potatoes (5 lb) | $1.96 | $2.29 | $2.81 | $3.34 | $4.01 | $3.96 | $4.95 | +152.6% |
| Apples (3 lb)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.49 | $5.20 | +15.8% since 2022 |
| Tomatoes (lb) | $1.44 | $1.66 | $1.84 | $2.09 | $2.22 | $1.89 | $2.08 | +44.4% |
| Lettuce (head) | $0.75 | $0.82 | $0.90 | $1.17 | $1.34 | — | $1.96 | +162.3% |
| Cooking Oil (48 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $5.54 | $7.76 | +40.1% since 2022 |
| Yogurt (32 oz)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.15 | $4.94 | +19.0% since 2022 |
| Cereal (family size)Local estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $4.79 | $6.20 | +29.4% since 2022 |
| Frozen PizzaLocal estimate | — | — | — | — | — | $6.31 | $8.65 | +37.1% since 2022 |
Dining & Restaurants
Fast Food Meal
$17.49
Casual Dining
$30.93
Monthly Spend
$521.46
+5.41% YoYChain Restaurant Meal Prices — 2022 vs. Today
Combo meal / typical order for one
McDonald's
2022: $8.36
$13.49
+61.4%Wendy's
2022: $9.44
$14.57
+54.3%Chipotle
2022: $10.12
$15.11
+49.3%Starbucks
2022: $4.58
$6.36
+38.9%Eating out more? Save on groceries with Ibotta and cook at home more often.
Looking for an Apartment in Barnstable Town?
Average 1BR: $2,114/mo · 2BR: $3,042/mo
Barnstable Town Cost of Living FAQ
Is Barnstable Town, MA expensive to live in?
Barnstable Town has a cost of living index of 135, where 100 is the US average, so it is about 35% more expensive than average. It is the 2nd most expensive of the 5 Massachusetts cities we track.
What is the average rent in Barnstable Town, MA?
Typical rent in Barnstable Town is $2,578 a month for all home types as of September 2026, 33% above the national figure of $1,932. One bedroom units average about $2,114 and two bedrooms about $3,042. Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index for the metro area.
Is rent going up in Barnstable Town?
Rent in Barnstable Town rose 2.1% over the past year, slower than the 2.7% change nationally.
How much is gas in Barnstable Town?
Regular unleaded costs about $4.07 a gallon in Barnstable Town as of November 11, 2026, based on the AAA average for Massachusetts. That is 2% above the national average of $3.98.
How much is electricity in Barnstable Town?
Homes in Massachusetts pay an average of 30.5 cents per kWh (EIA), versus 18.4 cents nationally. At 900 kWh a month, a typical bill in Barnstable Town is about $274.
How much is car insurance in Barnstable Town?
Full coverage car insurance averages $1,882 a year in Massachusetts, or about $157 a month (Bankrate and NAIC state average), compared with $2,150 a year nationally.
How much do you need to live in Barnstable Town?
Median household income in the Barnstable Town area is $96,505 (Census ACS 2023, county level). Rent, gas, groceries, electricity and car insurance add up to about $45,714 a year, or 47% of that income. Groceries are counted at $7,165 a year, the average household spend on food at home in the region (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey).
How does Barnstable Town compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
Rent in Barnstable Town is 13% above the $2,278 average across the 5 Massachusetts cities we track, and its cost of living index of 135 compares with a state average of 131.
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