Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Rochester?

Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $34,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Rochester?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax).

Boston vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 49% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 51% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$750

+60% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$857

+57% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,114

+48% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,240

+44% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$120,600

+83% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$46,628

+51% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$51,210

+23% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

33.5 yr

+0.3 yr in Rochester, NY

Homeownership

35.4%

37.2%

+1.8 pp in Rochester, NY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

29.9%

+24.2 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

18.9 min

+11.3 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

690

+9% in Rochester, NY

Property Crime

2,030.8

3,533.4

+74% in Rochester, NY

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

48.2°F

+3.3°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

34.3 in

+9.5 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$4.04/gal

+2% in Rochester, NY

Area: Massachusetts vs New York.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

29.9

+4% in Rochester, NY

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$22.74

+28% 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 / NY)

6.25%

+2.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

10.90%

+1.9 pp in NY

Boston vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Rochester?: Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 49% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Rochester?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).