Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,010/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $2,010 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Los Angeles, CA is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 15% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$1,468
+22% in Boston, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$1,688
+15% in Boston, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$2,148
+0% in Boston, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$2,489
+11% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$879,500
+24% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$80,366
+15% in Boston, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$55,850
+16% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
36.9 yr
+3.7 yr in Los Angeles, CA
Homeownership
35.4%
36.3%
+0.9 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
37.8%
+16.3 pp in Boston, MA
Avg Commute
30.2 min
31.1 min
+0.9 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
730.3
+16% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
2,030.8
1,501.4
+26% in Boston, MA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
67.0°F
+15.5°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
21.2 in
+22.5 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$5.40/gal
+37% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: Massachusetts vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs LA Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.8
33.3
+15% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.39
$20.72
+34% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Los Angeles, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Boston, MA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / CA)
6.25%
7.25%
+1.0 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
13.30%
+4.3 pp in CA

Boston vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,010 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Los Angeles?
Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).