Cost of living · head to head
Phoenix, AZ is 5% cheaper than Boston, MA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Try your own salary
in Boston, MA
To live the same in Phoenix, AZ, you’d need about $95,383.
That’s about $4,617 less — Phoenix, AZ is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Phoenix, AZ runs 18% lower than in Boston, MA (121.2 vs 148.4), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Phoenix, AZ
| $50,000 in Boston, MA | $47,692 |
| $75,000 in Boston, MA | $71,537 |
| $100,000 in Boston, MA | $95,383 |
| $150,000 in Boston, MA | $143,075 |
| $200,000 in Boston, MA | $190,766 |
Each row shows the salary in Phoenix, AZ that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Boston, MA.
Boston, MA · housing
148.4
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Common questions
Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper than Boston, MA?
Yes — Phoenix, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 108.3 for Boston, MA, making it about 5% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to match $100,000 in Boston, MA?
About $95,383. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Boston, MA costs roughly $95,383 in Phoenix, AZ.
Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Boston, MA?
Housing in Phoenix, AZ scores 121.2 versus 148.4 in Boston, MA — about 18% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ?
Overall, Phoenix, AZ is about 5% cheaper than Boston, MA (index 103.3 vs 108.3), with housing 18% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.