Cost of Living in Boston, MA
Boston, MA scores 150 on the cost-of-living index — about 50% more expensive than the US average of 100, and #7 of 77 US cities we track.
Compare your salary: Boston vs any US city
Enter where you live now and what you earn — see the equivalent salary needed in Boston to keep the same standard of living.
To live the way $100,000 affords in Boston, MA, you would need about $124,667 in New York City, NY — roughly 24.7% more.
| Category | Boston | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall index | 150 | 187 | +25% |
| Housing | 208 | 287 | +38% |
| Groceries | 121 | 137 | +13% |
| Utilities | 128 | 130 | +2% |
| Transportation | 125 | 120 | −4% |
| Healthcare | 116 | 128 | +10% |
Boston cost-of-living breakdown
| Category | Index | vs US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 150 | +50% |
| Housing | 208 | +108% |
| Groceries | 121 | +21% |
| Utilities | 128 | +28% |
| Transportation | 125 | +25% |
| Healthcare | 116 | +16% |
Note These are approximate comparative estimates on a US-average = 100 scale (the C2ER/ACCRA and BestPlaces convention). Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. Actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle — treat the numbers as directional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Boston expensive to live in?
Boston, MA has a cost-of-living index of 150, where the US average is 100. That makes it about 50% more expensive than a typical US city, and ranks it #7 of 77 cities in our index. Housing is the biggest single factor, with a housing index of 208.
What is the cost-of-living index for Boston?
The overall index is 150 (US average = 100). By category: housing 208, groceries 121, utilities 128, transportation 125 and healthcare 116. A value above 100 means costlier than average; below 100 means cheaper.
How much salary do I need to live in Boston?
It depends on where you're moving from. Use the calculator above: enter your current city and salary, and it scales your pay by the ratio of the two cities' indices to show the equivalent salary needed in Boston to keep the same standard of living.
How is the Boston cost-of-living index calculated?
It is a comparative estimate on the same US-average = 100 scale used by the C2ER/ACCRA Cost of Living Index and BestPlaces, spanning housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Category sub-indices are modeled from the overall composite. These are approximate estimates — actual costs vary by neighborhood, household and lifestyle.
Which is the cheapest category in Boston?
In Boston, healthcare is the most affordable category relative to the US average (index 116), while housing is the priciest (index 208).