Cost of Living · Massachusetts

Boston Cost of Living

Boston, Massachusetts costs approximately 22.0% above the US national average. Compare with 49 other major US cities.

1.22×

cost-of-living index (1.00 = US national average)

Boston ranks 1 of 2 cities in Massachusetts by cost of living.

Cities MORE expensive than Boston (5)

San Francisco, CA

+18.9% more expensive

+10.7% more expensive

New York City, NY

+8.2% more expensive

+6.6% more expensive

+6.6% more expensive

Cities CHEAPER than Boston (93)

−0.8% cheaper

−1.6% cheaper

−1.6% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

−3.3% cheaper

Chula Vista, CA

−5.7% cheaper

−8.2% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−9.8% cheaper

−11.5% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−13.9% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

Minneapolis, MN

−14.8% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

−14.8% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

Philadelphia, PA

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

−16.4% cheaper

Salt Lake City, UT

−16.4% cheaper

−17.2% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

Virginia Beach, VA

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

North Las Vegas, NV

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.0% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

Colorado Springs, CO

−18.9% cheaper

Bakersfield, CA

−18.9% cheaper

St. Petersburg, FL

−18.9% cheaper

−18.9% cheaper

−19.7% cheaper

Jacksonville, FL

−20.5% cheaper

−20.5% cheaper

−20.5% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−21.3% cheaper

−22.1% cheaper

−22.1% cheaper

Tallahassee, FL

−22.1% cheaper

−23.0% cheaper

Albuquerque, NM

−23.0% cheaper

New Orleans, LA

−23.0% cheaper

San Antonio, TX

−23.8% cheaper

Grand Rapids, MI

−23.8% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

Kansas City, MO

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

Corpus Christi, TX

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−24.6% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

−25.4% cheaper

Winston-Salem, NC

−25.4% cheaper

Indianapolis, IN

−26.2% cheaper

−26.2% cheaper

−26.2% cheaper

−27.0% cheaper

Oklahoma City, OK

−27.0% cheaper

−27.0% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−27.9% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

−29.5% cheaper

Boston cost of living, in context

With a cost-of-living index of 1.22× the US national average, Boston sits above the typical American cost baseline. 5 of the 49 other major US cities we track cost more, while 93 cost less.

What drives the index: housing dominates (typically 30-40% of household budget), followed by transportation (~15%), food (~10%), healthcare (~10%), and utilities/services. Boston's premium reflects high housing costs in particular — coastal proximity, employer concentration, and supply constraints all push prices.

Salary in Boston

Salaries in Boston typically scale with the cost-of-living index. A professional earning $X in a national-average metro would expect approximately $122K for the same role in Boston. See our salary by job in Boston pages for specific role estimates across 50 jobs.

Related tools

Boston Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home with city/state taxes. Boston salary by job — 50 jobs. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the cost of living index for Boston?▾

Boston's cost-of-living index is 1.22× US average — meaning living costs are approximately 22.0% above the national average. Major drivers: housing, taxes, transportation. Index based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Is Boston expensive to live in?▾

Yes — Boston is among the more expensive US cities, with costs ~22.0% above national average. Housing is typically the dominant factor.

What salary do I need to live in Boston?▾

Living comfortably in Boston typically requires income matching the local cost-of-living multiplier × what you'd need elsewhere. For a "moderate" lifestyle: household income of $80K+ is often suggested. Use our salary by city pages for job-specific estimates.

How does Boston compare within Massachusetts?▾

Boston ranks 1 of 2 cities we track in Massachusetts by cost of living. Within-state variation can be significant — major metros typically cost more than smaller cities or rural areas.

Where does this index come from?▾

BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — published annually by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. Reflects cost differences for the same basket of goods/services across metros. Useful baseline; specific items (housing, dining out) can vary much more than the overall index suggests.