Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Newark?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Newark?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Boston vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 47% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 49% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$1,111

+41% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$978

+51% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,386

+36% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,695

+24% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$337,800

+52% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$48,416

+49% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$61,430

+8% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

34.8 yr

+1.6 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

35.4%

24.1%

+11.3 pp in Boston, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

17.4%

+36.7 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

33.2 min

+3.0 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

582.5

+8% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

2,030.8

1,961.8

+3% 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

54.9°F

+3.4°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

46.3 in

+2.5 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

23.3

+19% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$15.93

+49% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / NJ)

6.25%

6.625%

+0.4 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

10.75%

+1.8 pp in NJ

Boston vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 47% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Newark?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).