Cost of living · head to head
Boston, MA is 5% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Los Angeles, CAoverall index
113.6
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Try your own salary
in Los Angeles, CA
To live the same in Boston, MA, you’d need about $95,335.
That’s about $4,665 less — Boston, MA is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Boston, MA runs 13% lower than in Los Angeles, CA (148.4 vs 170.4), 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 Boston, MA
| $50,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $47,667 |
| $75,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $71,501 |
| $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $95,335 |
| $150,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $143,002 |
| $200,000 in Los Angeles, CA | $190,669 |
Each row shows the salary in Boston, MA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles, CA · housing
170.4
Boston, MA · housing
148.4
Common questions
Is Boston, MA cheaper than Los Angeles, CA?
Yes — Boston, MA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.3 versus 113.6 for Los Angeles, CA, making it about 5% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Boston, MA to match $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA?
About $95,335. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Los Angeles, CA costs roughly $95,335 in Boston, MA.
Is housing cheaper in Boston, MA than in Los Angeles, CA?
Housing in Boston, MA scores 148.4 versus 170.4 in Los Angeles, CA — about 13% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Los Angeles, CA and Boston, MA?
Overall, Boston, MA is about 5% cheaper than Los Angeles, CA (index 108.3 vs 113.6), with housing 13% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.