Cost of Living in Boston

Summary of cost of living in Boston, MA, United States:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 24.00 $ 15.00-50.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 120.00 $ 70.00-200.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 12.00 $ 10.00-15.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 8.00 $ 5.80-12.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 9.00 $ 7.50-12.00
Cappuccino (regular) 5.83 $ 4.00-8.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 3.09 $ 2.50-4.25
Water (12 oz small bottle) 2.47 $ 2.00-4.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 5.04 $ 3.39-7.57
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 3.99 $ 2.99-6.35
Rice (white), (1 lb) 2.81 $ 1.36-5.00
Eggs (regular) (12) 4.39 $ 2.99-6.00
Local Cheese (1 lb) 7.97 $ 4.63-15.00
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 6.27 $ 4.00-12.00
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 9.22 $ 6.00-16.00
Apples (1 lb) 2.43 $ 1.22-4.00
Banana (1 lb) 0.90 $ 0.50-3.00
Oranges (1 lb) 2.98 $ 1.18-6.00
Tomato (1 lb) 3.33 $ 1.69-6.00
Potato (1 lb) 2.21 $ 0.88-3.63
Onion (1 lb) 1.72 $ 0.95-3.00
Lettuce (1 head) 2.93 $ 2.00-4.50
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.66 $ 2.00-6.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 15.00 $ 10.00-30.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 2.48 $ 1.73-4.29
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 5.60 $ 3.00-10.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 13.70 $ 12.00-17.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 2.40 $ 2.40-4.50
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 90.00 $ 90.00-100.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 2.60 $ 2.60-3.10
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 2.80 $ 2.80-6.00
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 28.00 $ 28.00-28.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 3.54 $ 3.00-4.00
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 32,000.00 $ 23,263.44-35,783.94
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 24,948.50 $ 24,000.00-26,187.44
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 192.34 $ 121.56-300.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 57.86 $ 30.00-90.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 71.32 $ 48.00-125.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 90.25 $ 35.00-185.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 32.50 $ 25.00-50.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 16.00 $ 14.00-21.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 2,535.71 $ 2,000.00-3,200.00
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 30,833.33 $ 15,000.00-40,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 66.41 $ 35.00-120.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 42.17 $ 25.00-60.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 103.67 $ 55.00-150.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 153.33 $ 80.00-250.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 3,382.93 $ 2,500.00-4,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 2,503.45 $ 2,000.00-3,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 5,752.38 $ 4,500.00-8,000.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 3,765.00 $ 3,000.00-5,000.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 962.48 $ 538.83-1,499.99
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 544.54 $ 449.00-999.99
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 5,711.44 $
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 6.57 6.00-7.25

Prices in Boston, Massachusetts

This city had 1614 entries in the past 12 months by 193 different contributors.
Last update: December 2024
Sources and References
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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7 Comments so far
Kevin M. on Jun 14, 2024:
The cost of living is high in Boston but it is absolutely NOT represented in the comments below. Much of 'the facts' are simply made up. The last poster, for example: 'Very hard to be broke and rely on the MTA subway which is filled with junkies and always breaking down.' This is completely made up. (it's the MBTA btw)

Each writer appears to have a big chip on their shoulder, and this begins with them, not Boston.
Boston Donut on Apr 26, 2024:
This city is only suitable for rich students and high earners. Very hard to be broke and rely on the MTA subway which is filled with junkies and always breaking down.
Alan on Apr 18, 2024:
I mean all the talk about science, biotech, schools and blah blah blah is great but I'm sorry this really doesn't merit the price ask to live in not just the area but the state. For what you pay Boston should have better and more varied restaurants, a more vibrant social scene, better eye candy...IDK, just more social warmth. It's not a bad place and the industries it focuses on are important. But it is toe toe toe expensive with places like LA, NYC or London for not enough quirks or life. The state's cost of living comes from there not being enough housing for the populace it has. Either MA has to create more housing to humanize the cost of breathing there or add more amenities/distractions to merit the cost and compete with the more expensive cities that offer more character like NYC. Chicago for example offers way more than Boston in an almost NYC level but it costs less than Boston. MA and Boston are expensive, sure have focused industries, but it is a boring place overall for what you get. Ot doesn't really accommodate for the young, single and without children crowd (18-late 30s-early 40s). Great for the marries, with children or parents in general and the elderly. But for the in-between areas the asking prices are ridiculous unless they're the live to work sort whose social life primarily consists of going to work.
Anonymous on Feb 18, 2024:
Boston is a terrible racist city. And will always be irrelevant compared to cities like New York, LA, San Francisco.
kb on Jan 11, 2024:
To Anon,

"The entire state lives in a bottle of scotch enebriated,sedated,whatever you want to call it the sheep don't have a clue how to create anything except nothingness."

Boston is home to the #1 biotechnology industry in the world... everyday science is pushed forward in Boston
Anonymous on Jan 01, 2022:
Boston isn't a progressive city just like Massachusetts isn't either. They're called new englanders for a reason. Nonprogressive just like England is.The entire state lives in a bottle of scotch enebriated,sedated,whatever you want to call it the sheep don't have a clue how to create anything except nothingness.
Kev on Nov 14, 2021:
2021 you can live for a few days in boston with earning 3k a month but you will indeed starve to death after 7 days because 3k is enough to rent a cubical called a studio, but you won't have enough for food. Better chances is to buy an rv and rent a parking spot, probably would cost you 300$ a month for that parking(you won't find street parking) and another 1000$ in expenses aka fuel (you will be stuck in traffic for hours). However the taxes will probably make your wallet bleed and you will eventually starve aswell. Best option honestly is be very lucky and smart and spend 200k on medical school, preferably Harvard, and wait a couple of years until you eventually earn the big bucks, only after, you will be able to afford a 1bd apt in the projects, and be able to afford a 2001 Honda civic and live off ramen. Boston life is good am I right?