Cost of Living in Boston, MA
This page looks at rent, median home prices, property taxes, income taxes, and the salary you may need to live with breathing room in Boston.
Boston cost of living snapshot
Is Boston expensive to live in?
Boston can support a high-income lifestyle, but it is not an easy city from a cost-of-living perspective because housing remains expensive and tax drag still matters.
The city tends to work better for people with strong earnings power than for households trying to optimize around low recurring expenses.
Boston often feels tighter than its salaries suggest once housing and taxes are measured together.
What this page measures
Housing pressure
Rent, home prices, and property taxes usually have the biggest effect on whether a city feels affordable.
Salary fit
A city is only workable if your income is high enough relative to its housing and tax burden.
Take-home pay
State and federal taxes shape how much of your paycheck is actually available for rent, savings, and flexibility.
$231 a month more · $9,210 upfront
Leave a field blank to use the estimate shown in it. These feed cash needed upfront and the time to earn back the cost.
Is your household better off after this move?
New York City → Boston, comparing what you keep each month now and after the move.
Monthly change
+$231
Range −$788 to +$1,249
First-year impact
−$1,233
12 months of change minus $4,000 spent. Range −$14,454 to +$11,987
Cash needed upfront
$9,210
Includes a refundable deposit. Range $6,908 to $11,513
Time to earn back the cost
18 mo
Best case 3 mo, worst case never
Why it changes, per month
No separate current income entered, so pay is assumed unchanged. Enter your current salary in the field above to include a raise or pay cut.
| Per month | Now | After the move |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home pay | $7,493 | $7,931 |
| Left over after housing and other costs | $3,319 | $3,549 |
The range changes only figures this site estimated: housing by 10%, living costs by 15% and one-time costs by 25%, in the worse direction for the low end and the better direction for the high end. Figures you typed do not move. These spreads are planning assumptions.
Estimated by this site, not entered by you
Living costs in both cities are also estimates. Enter your own in the living-cost fields above to replace the new city's.
Example results from sample inputs. Change any field to see your own numbers.
This move leaves you about $231 more each month.
You will need about $9,210 upfront, including refundable deposits. The one-time costs are earned back in about 18 months.
8 of these figures are estimates. Replace them with your own in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
Workable budget, but watch discretionary spending.
| Case | Monthly change | Cash upfront | Months to earn back |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costs higher than estimated | -$788 | $11,513 | Not earned back |
| As estimated | +$231 | $9,210 | 18 |
| Costs lower than estimated | +$1,249 | $6,908 | 3 |
| Metric | New York City | Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Net monthly | $7,493 | $7,931 |
| Housing | $2,524est. | $2,775 |
| Essentials | $1,650 | $1,606 |
| Left after essentials | $3,319 | $3,549 |
Boston is roughly 1% less expensive than New York City.
$150,000 is at or above what's typically needed to match your current budget in Boston, which is 1% less expensive than New York City. You may have room to negotiate for equity, remote flexibility, or other terms instead of base salary.
City data and planning assumptions are starting estimates. Replace them with a real rent quote, your own bills and moving quotes in the fields on the left to firm up the answer.
- Offer salary$150,000Sample value
- Current salaryEnter your current salary if it differsSame as offerPlanning assumption
- Monthly rent in the new city$2,605City data
- GroceriesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$542/moCity data
- UtilitiesNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$293/moCity data
- TransportationNational budget scaled by the city's BEA price level$271/moCity data
- Dining out$300/moPlanning assumption
- Subscriptions and misc$200/moPlanning assumption
- Movers or truck$1,500Planning assumption
- Travel and storage$500Planning assumption
- Furniture and setup$2,000Planning assumption
- Refundable deposit$5,210Planning assumption
City data · Planning assumption · Sample value. City data is published Census or BEA data for the city you chose; where BEA price levels scale the site's national budgets, the budget itself is a planning assumption. Planning assumptions are the site's starting estimates, not quotes or forecasts. Sample values are placeholders until you enter your own.
What salary do you need to live in Boston?
For Boston, the salary you need is less about clearing rent and more about whether there is enough room left for savings and long-term financial progress.
The tighter, target, and comfort ranges are not exact promises. They are planning ranges meant to show the difference between barely workable, more sustainable, and more comfortable salary levels.
Based on the current rent estimate for Boston, a salary around $104,200 is a reasonable starting point for many renters, while a salary closer to $111,643 may leave more room for savings and unexpected costs.
Frequently asked questions about Boston
- What is the cost of living in Boston?
- The biggest drivers are usually housing, taxes, and transportation. Rent, home price and property tax on this page come from the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020-2024, and price levels from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024; budgets for other categories are planning assumptions.
- What salary do you need to live comfortably in Boston?
- Based on current rent estimates, a salary of around $104,200 is a reasonable target for many renters in Boston. A salary closer to $111,643 usually leaves more room for savings and flexibility.
- Is Boston a good place to move for affordability?
- It depends on where you are moving from and whether the city improves your income-to-cost ratio. The comparison tool is the best way to pressure-test that.
- How does MA state income tax affect take-home pay in Boston?
- State income tax is one of the biggest variables in how far your salary goes. The calculator applies MA state tax rules so you can compare take-home pay, not just gross salary.
Related pages for Boston
Boston at a glance, single filer on $100,000
2026 taxes on $100,000 in Boston
| Tax on $100,000 | Boston |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $13,170 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $7,650 |
| Massachusetts income tax | $4,780 |
| City income tax | $0 |
| State payroll programs | $460 |
| Take-home pay | $73,940 |
| Share of pay paid in tax | 26.1% |
Single filer, wages only, standard deduction, no 401(k) contribution. Federal figures follow IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32; state and city rules are on the methodology page.
Take-home pay in Boston at every salary
| Salary | Take-home a year | Take-home a month | After typical rent a month | Rent share of take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,845 | $3,320 | $715 | 78.5% |
| $75,000 | $57,718 | $4,810 | $2,205 | 54.2% |
| $100,000 | $73,940 | $6,162 | $3,557 | 42.3% |
| $150,000 | $105,821 | $8,818 | $6,213 | 29.5% |
| $250,000 | $170,053 | $14,171 | $11,566 | 18.4% |
Take-home is after 2026 federal, state, local and payroll tax. Rent is the typical Census figure for recent movers. Food, transportation, insurance and other costs are not subtracted.
Cost of living in Boston compared with the U.S.
| Measure | Boston | U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 108.3 | 100.0 | +8.3 |
| Housing price level | 148.4 | 100.0 | +48.4 |
| Utilities price level | 148.8 | 100.0 | +48.8 |
| Goods price level | 99.7 | 100.0 | -0.3 |
| Typical rent (monthly) | $2,605 | $1,411 | +$1,194 |
| Typical home value | $735,900 | $375,900 | +$360,000 |
| Median property tax paid (yearly) | $4,456 | $3,119 | +$1,337 |
| Residential electricity (cents per kWh) | 30.14 | 18.19 | +11.95 |
Price levels are BEA Regional Price Parities for the metro area (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026)); housing, utilities and goods levels are shown against the U.S. average of 100. Rent, home value and property tax are U.S. Census Bureau figures (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025)); electricity is the Massachusetts residential price, year-to-date through july 2026.
Renting and buying in Boston
| Measure | Boston |
|---|---|
| Income to rent the typical home (30% rule) | $104,200 |
| Monthly cost to own the typical home (20% down) | $4,245 |
| Income to buy the typical home (28% rule) | $181,930 |
Owning cost is the mortgage payment on the typical home with 20% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% (the calculator's starting rate, not a quote), the city's typical property tax rate and $150 a month for insurance. HOA fees and maintenance are not included.
Who moves to and from Massachusetts
In the latest IRS migration data (2022-23), 83,296 households filed in Massachusetts after filing in another state the year before, and 98,674 did the reverse: a net loss of 15,378 households.
Where people moving to Massachusetts come from
- New York: 10,479 households
- Florida: 8,058 households
- New Hampshire: 6,594 households
- California: 6,565 households
- Connecticut: 6,467 households
- Rhode Island: 5,218 households
- New Jersey: 3,596 households
- Texas: 3,394 households
Where people leaving Massachusetts go
- Florida: 12,159 households
- New York: 11,027 households
- New Hampshire: 10,603 households
- California: 7,767 households
- Rhode Island: 6,510 households
- Connecticut: 6,006 households
- Texas: 4,218 households
- North Carolina: 3,483 households
Source: IRS Statistics of Income state-to-state migration files. The IRS publishes state totals, not city totals, and counts only people who filed a return in both years.
Where to go next
- Compare a move: see what a change of city does to rent, taxes and take-home pay.
- See the FIRE impact: enter your numbers and use the Move tab to see the change in your timeline.
- Plan it in detail: model withdrawals, taxes and Social Security year by year (Beta).
Boston questions
- How much do I keep of a $100,000 salary in Boston?
- A single filer on $100,000 keeps about $73,940 a year ($6,162 a month) in Boston after 2026 federal, state, local and payroll tax. That is 26.1% of pay paid in tax.
- Is Boston expensive?
- Overall prices in the Boston area are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (BEA Regional Price Parities). Typical rent is $2,605 a month, 85% higher than the national figure of $1,411.
- How much income do I need to rent or buy in Boston?
- To keep rent at 30% of income, about $104,200 a year covers the typical rent of $2,605. Owning the typical home with 20% down costs about $4,245 a month, which takes about $181,930 a year at 28% of income.
- Are people moving to Massachusetts?
- IRS migration data for 2022-23 show 83,296 households moving into Massachusetts from other states and 98,674 moving out, a net loss of 15,378 households. These are state totals, not city totals.
Sources and limits
Written and maintained by Relocation By Numbers. Figures were generated on 2026-10-13 from the sources below; tax rules are for tax year 2026. Full methodology
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax brackets and standard deduction
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): payroll tax rates
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates (Census Bureau, released December 2025))
- Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities (2024 Regional Price Parities (Bureau of Economic Analysis, released February 2026))
- IRS Statistics of Income, state-to-state migration data
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B
- State and city income tax rules, by state
Not included
- Itemized deductions, tax credits and dependents; the figures are for a single filer on wages.
- Neighborhood-level rent and home prices, which can differ widely from a city median.
- Moving costs, car costs, health insurance, child care, food and sales tax.