Cost of living in Boston: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Boston runs 8.3% higher than the US average. In 2024 the Boston, MA metro area had an RPP of 108.3 from BEA, the US sits at 100, and housing alone at 148.4.
- Level of prices
- 108.3US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 148.4. Rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Boston
A regional price parity compares the cost of one basket of goods and services in a single place against the US average, set at 100. BEA prices the entire Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, the region that includes Boston, as one place. Utilities are the group furthest from the US average, at 148.8, or 48.8% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Boston, MA metro | Massachusetts | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.3 | 105.8 | +8.3% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 98.8 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 148.4 | 128.1 | +48.4% |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 152.1 | +48.8% |
| Other services | 103.6 | 102.9 | +3.6% |
Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.: 2024 regional price parities, listed by metro area and state. BEA regional price parities
Boston rent
In Boston, asking rents typically run $3,271 a month, +2.1% on a year, according to Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). That index covers rent on homes listed now. The US figure is $1,932. Every renting household, not only new leases, counts in the Census median gross rent of $2,196. Twelve months of asking rent equals 40% of the median household income.
| Rent | Boston | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $3,271 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +2.1% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $2,196 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income, one year of asking rent | 40% | 28% |
Sources: the Zillow Observed Rent Index, and the Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024, which uses one-year estimates.
Boston home prices
In September 2026, the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) put the typical Boston home at $761,236. It measures values for homes in the middle range of the market. The yearly change is −1.6%, compared with $366,157 in the US. The price equals 7.8 years of median household income, versus 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Boston | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $761,236 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | −1.6% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +37.6% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 7.8 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 19.4 | 15.8 |
Days on market, the forecast, and the price chart since 2000: Boston housing market.
The salary you need to live in Boston
Two questions decide the Boston salary: what you earn, and where you live. It is the salary that buys what your pay buys now.
- Moving from
- Salary
Side by side, the method and every city: cost of living comparison for each city.
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Cost of living in Boston vs other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | A typical rent | Home value, typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 108.3 | 148.4 | $3,271 | $761,236 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities, 2024, with US = 100. For rent, Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison by city. Look at each state: state cost of living.