Cost of living index
Boston, MA
108.3 / 100
Living in Boston, MA is 8.3% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
108.3
Housing / rent
148.4
vs US average
+8.3%
What it costs to live in Boston, MA
Boston, MA has an overall price level of 108.3 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 8.3% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 148.4 it is 48.4% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Boston, MA with
New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXHouston, TXWashington, DCPhiladelphia, PAAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZRiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Boston, MA an expensive place to live?
Boston, MA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.3, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 8.3% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Boston, MA?
Housing in Boston, MA scores 148.4 against a US average of 100 — roughly 48.4% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Boston, MA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Boston, MA sit at 108.3 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 148.4. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.