Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Worcester?

Neither — both are in Massachusetts, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Boston vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 29% higher in Boston, MA. Both cities are in Massachusetts, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$1,890

$1,087

+42% in Boston, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,028

+48% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,476

+32% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,675

+25% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$339,500

+52% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$67,544

+29% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$57,830

+13% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

34.1 yr

+0.9 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

35.4%

42.4%

+7.0 pp in Worcester, MA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

34.1%

+20.0 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

25.1 min

+5.1 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

640.2

+2% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

2,030.8

1,580.3

+22% 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

47.9°F

+3.6°F in Boston, MA

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

48.1 in

+4.3 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

about equal

Area: Massachusetts vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

about equal

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

about equal

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 / MA)

6.25%

about equal

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

about equal

Boston vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Worcester?: Neither — both are in Massachusetts, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).