Is Boston expensive to live in?

Boston is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,978 per month ranks #3 of 112 and is 83% higher than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Boston?

Average rent in Boston, MA runs a studio around $1,890, a one-bedroom around $1,978, a two-bedroom around $2,155, a three-bedroom around $2,234 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Boston?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,978 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year. The median household income here is $94,755.

How much does it cost to live in Boston per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Boston is about $2,290 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Boston, MA

Population 663,972 · Massachusetts

~$2,290/mo est.1BR $1,978Home $710,400

Photo: Andrea Sun / Unsplash

Compare with:

The cost of living in Boston, MA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,978 a month — 83% higher than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,890 and two-bedrooms $2,155.

Median household income here is $94,755, 36% higher than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $2,290 before food and transport. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,978

Studio

$1,890

1 Bedroom

$1,978

2 Bedroom

$2,155

3 Bedroom

$2,234

Buying a Home$710,400

Median Home Value

$710,400

Income$94,755

Median Household Income

$94,755

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities28.8¢/kWh

Electricity

28.8¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$31.39/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.95/gal

Regular Gasoline (Massachusetts)

$3.95/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (MA)6.25% sales

State Sales Tax

6.25%

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 9.00%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime630.2 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

630.2

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,030.8

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Boston Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.2 yrs

Median Age

33.2 yrs

Homeownership

35.4%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

Avg Commute

30.2 min

Climate51.5°F

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

Boston cost of living — FAQ

Is Boston expensive to live in?: Boston is among the most expensive of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,978 per month ranks #3 of 112 and is 83% higher than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Boston?: Average rent in Boston, MA runs a studio around $1,890, a one-bedroom around $1,978, a two-bedroom around $2,155, a three-bedroom around $2,234 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Boston?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,978 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year. The median household income here is $94,755.
How much does it cost to live in Boston per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Boston is about $2,290 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Boston with nearby cities

Boston vs Providence Boston vs Manchester Boston vs Portland Boston vs Bridgeport Boston vs Burlington Boston vs New York City

Nearby cities

Providence, RI 41 mi Manchester, NH 48 mi Portland, ME 98 mi Bridgeport, CT 137 mi Burlington, VT 182 mi New York City, NY 190 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.