Boston vs Arlington Cost of Living
Arlington is approximately 22.1% cheaper than Boston. See salary equivalence, taxes, and side-by-side breakdown.
Boston, MA
Arlington, TX
| Salary in Boston | Equivalent in Arlington | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $38,900 | -$11,100 (-22.2%) |
| $75,000 | $58,400 | -$16,600 (-22.1%) |
| $100,000 | $77,900 | -$22,100 (-22.1%) |
| $150,000 | $116,800 | -$33,200 (-22.1%) |
| $200,000 | $155,700 | -$44,300 (-22.2%) |
Boston vs Arlington: which is more affordable?
On an overall cost-of-living basis, Arlington is 22.1% cheaper than Boston. That means if you currently spend $5,000/month in Boston, you'd spend approximately $3,893 for the same lifestyle in Arlington. Or: $100,000 in Boston ≈ $77,869 in Arlington for equivalent purchasing power.
These multipliers are based on Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities and reflect average housing, food, transportation, and services costs. Real personal costs vary by neighborhood (urban core vs suburb), housing choice (rent vs own, apartment vs house), and lifestyle (frequency of dining out, car-dependent vs transit, etc.).
Tax differences
Massachusetts has state income tax, but Texas doesn't. Moving from Boston to Arlington eliminates state income tax — saving ~5% effective on income, or roughly $5,000/year on $100K.
What costs more (and less) in Arlington
Cost of living differences are driven mostly by housing — typically the biggest expense category. Arlington's housing index (0.61×) compared to Boston's (1.10×) is the dominant factor.
Food, groceries, and transportation typically vary 5–15% between metros — much less than housing. For a couple moving from Boston to Arlington, expect roughly:
- Rent / mortgage: -44% lower
- Groceries: -14% lower
- Transportation: -11% lower
- Healthcare, services: roughly proportional to overall index
Things this calculator can't fully capture
- Quality-of-life: weather, walkability, school quality, crime rates, commute times — not in the index.
- Career opportunities: a metro with higher cost-of-living often pays correspondingly higher salaries for the same role. See our salary calculator by job and city.
- Family situation: childcare, school district, eldercare costs vary independently of overall index.
- Lifestyle preferences: a frugal renter pays less than the index suggests; a property owner in a hot market might pay much more.
Related tools
Boston Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Boston. Arlington Paycheck Calculator — exact take-home in Arlington. Salary Calculator — hourly ↔ annual conversion. Inflation Calculator — purchasing power over time. Mortgage Calculator — what you can afford.