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Cost of living · head to head

Boston, MA is approximately 5% cheaper than Miami, FL, using Miami, FL as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Miami, FL and Boston, MA metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Miami, FLoverall index
114.2
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Miami, FL
A salary of $100,000 in Miami, FL has approximately the same purchasing power as $94,834 in Boston, MA, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: Boston, MA is cheaper than Miami, FL, so you’d only need about $94,834 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Miami, FL — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$5,200 less you’d need to earn, not a step down.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in Boston, MA run 5% lower than in Miami, FL (148.4 vs 155.6), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryMiami, FLBoston, MADifference
Overall114.2108.3-5%
Goods103.699.7-4%
Housing rents155.6148.4-5%
Utilities97.2148.8+53%
Other services109.1103.6-5%

Boston, MA differs from Miami, FL the most in utilities — about 53% higher in Boston, MA — while the closest is goods.

Estimated salary equivalent in Boston, MA

$50,000 in Miami, FL$47,417
$75,000 in Miami, FL$71,125
$100,000 in Miami, FL$94,834
$150,000 in Miami, FL$142,250
$200,000 in Miami, FL$189,667

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in Boston, MA, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Miami, FL.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is Boston, MA cheaper than Miami, FL?

Yes — Boston, MA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.3 versus 114.2 for Miami, FL, making it about 5% cheaper.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Miami, FL if you moved to Boston, MA?

About $94,834, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Miami, FL has approximately the same purchasing power as $94,834 in Boston, MA. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in Boston, MA than in Miami, FL?

Housing rents in Boston, MA score 148.4 versus 155.6 in Miami, FL — about 5% cheaper. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Miami, FL and Boston, MA?

Overall, Boston, MA is about 5% cheaper than Miami, FL (index 108.3 vs 114.2), with housing 5% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.