Cost of Living in Boston

The cost of living in Boston is reflected by an index of 93, with rent index at 90. This page helps compare living expenses, rent, groceries, and affordability in Boston.

Boston has a cost of living index of 93 and a rent index of 90. That makes it one of the more expensive places in this starter dataset. Grocery and restaurant costs are shown below to help users compare daily spending.

Cost of living index
93
Rent index
90
Groceries index
96
Restaurant index
98

Living cost snapshot

MetricValue
Cost of living index93
Rent index90
Groceries index96
Restaurant price index98
Local purchasing power106
1-bed rent in city centre$2,990
1-bed rent outside centre$2,362

Salary comparison link

Users often compare local prices with local pay. See the average salary in Boston.

Compare Boston with other US cities

Related US cost pages

FAQ

Is Boston expensive?

This page shows the relative cost, rent, grocery, and restaurant indices so users can compare Boston with other places in the US.

How much is rent in Boston?

The sample dataset on this starter site uses a one-bedroom city-centre rent estimate of $2,990 per month.

Sources: Numbeo for cost of living metrics. Cost update: 2026-04-01. Salary context from BLS 2025.