Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Seattle?

Seattle, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $74,000 in Seattle.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Seattle?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Boston vs Seattle Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Seattle, WA is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 22% higher in Seattle, WA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$1,638

+13% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,858

+6% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$2,359

+9% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$2,918

+31% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$912,100

+28% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$121,984

+29% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$72,610

+9% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

35.5 yr

+2.3 yr in Seattle, WA

Homeownership

35.4%

44.2%

+8.8 pp in Seattle, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

67.5%

+13.4 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

26.6 min

+3.6 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

788.6

+25% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

2,030.8

5,108.8

+152% in Seattle, WA

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

53.5°F

+2.0°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

37.7 in

+6.1 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$5.31/gal

+34% in Seattle, WA

Area: Massachusetts vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

14.9

+48% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$20.41

+35% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Seattle, WA

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 / WA)

6.25%

6.5%

+0.3 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

None

+9.0 pp in MA

Boston vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Seattle?: Seattle, WA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Seattle?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Seattle?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).