Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Washington?

Washington, DC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $75,000 in Washington.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Washington?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax).

Boston vs Washington Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Washington, DC is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 11% higher in Washington, DC. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Washington, DC

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$1,763

+7% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,885

+5% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,949

+10% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$2,249

+1% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$724,600

+2% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$106,287

+12% in Washington, DC

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$71,060

+7% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

34.9 yr

+1.7 yr in Washington, DC

Homeownership

35.4%

41.1%

+5.7 pp in Washington, DC

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

63.6%

+9.5 pp in Washington, DC

Avg Commute

30.2 min

30.3 min

+0.1 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

936.3

+49% in Washington, DC

Property Crime

2,030.8

3,627.9

+79% in Washington, DC

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

58.2°F

+6.7°F in Washington, DC

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

39.7 in

+4.0 in in Boston, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.95/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — — vs WMATA (Metrobus) (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.8

25.4

+12% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.39

$22.01

+30% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Boston, MA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Boston, MA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Washington, DC

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Boston, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Boston, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Boston, MA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / DC)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

10.75%

+1.8 pp in DC

Boston vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Washington?: Washington, DC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $2,150 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Washington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Washington?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% 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).