How expensive is Boston compared to the rest of United States?

Boston ranks #24 out of 558 cities globally. It is 16.6% more expensive than the United States average, based on 80 cities. The rent index is 73.7 and local purchasing power is 137.7.

What is the average rent in Boston?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Boston city centre costs approximately USD 3,408 per month. Outside the centre, rent drops to USD 2,563 (saving 25%). A 3-bedroom apartment in the centre costs around USD 6,180.

Is Boston affordable to live in?

Boston is expensive overall. Groceries are expensive, restaurants are expensive, and local purchasing power is average.

🇺🇸 MA, United States · #24 of 558 cities · 2026

Coût de la Vie à Boston

16.6% au-dessus de la moyenne de United States

Classée #24 sur 558 villes · Plus chère que 95.7% des villes dans le monde

+16.6%

Coût de la Vie

Voir le classement United States →

+31.3%

Loyer

Voir le classement United States →

+14.0%

Épicerie

Voir le classement United States →

-5.0%

Pouvoir d'Achat

Voir le classement United States →

Par rapport à la moyenne de United States

Prix des Loyers

Prix des Loyers à Boston

Appartement	Centre-ville	Hors Centre	Vous économisez
1 Chambre	USD 3,408/mo	USD 2,563/mo	25%
3 Chambres	USD 6,180/mo	USD 3,864/mo	25%

Numbeo · 2026-03-12

Prices

Prices of Goods & Services in Boston

🛒

Groceries

Item	Price	Sources
Apples (1kg)	$4.89	2 sources
Beer (0.5L, supermarket)	$3.00	2 sources
Bread (500g)	$3.45	2 sources
Local cheese (1kg)	$14.50	2 sources
Chicken (1kg)	$12.88	2 sources
Cigarettes (Marlboro)	$13.27	2 sources
Eggs (12)	$5.57	2 sources
Milk (1L)	$1.18	2 sources
Potatoes (1kg)	$4.36	2 sources
Tomatoes (1kg)	$7.80	2 sources
Water (1.5L)	$2.79	1 source
Wine (mid-range)	$17.10	2 sources

Apples (1kg)

$4.89

Beer (0.5L, supermarket)

$3.00

Bread (500g)

$3.45

Local cheese (1kg)

$14.50

Chicken (1kg)

$12.88

Cigarettes (Marlboro)

$13.27

Eggs (12)

$5.57

Milk (1L)

$1.18

Potatoes (1kg)

$4.36

Tomatoes (1kg)

$7.80

Water (1.5L)

$2.79

Wine (mid-range)

$17.10

🍽️

Restaurants

Item	Price	Sources
Draft beer (0.5L)	$8.00	2 sources
Cappuccino	$5.56	2 sources
McMeal	$12.00	2 sources
Cheap meal	$24.00	2 sources
Mid-range dinner (2 people)	$130.50	2 sources

Draft beer (0.5L)

$8.00

Cappuccino

$5.56

McMeal

$12.00

Cheap meal

$24.00

Mid-range dinner (2 people)

$130.50

👗

Clothing & Shoes

Item	Price	Sources
Business shoes (leather)	$153.76	2 sources
Jeans (Levi's 501)	$68.71	2 sources
Sport shoes (Nike)	$113.06	2 sources
Summer dress (Zara/H&M)	$42.31	2 sources

Business shoes (leather)

$153.76

Jeans (Levi's 501)

$68.71

Sport shoes (Nike)

$113.06

Summer dress (Zara/H&M)

$42.31

🏋️

Leisure

Item	Price	Sources
Cinema ticket	$16.25	2 sources
Gym membership	$105.34	2 sources

Cinema ticket

$16.25

Gym membership

$105.34

🚌

Transportation

Item	Price	Sources
Gasoline (1L)	$0.87	2 sources
Taxi start	$2.60	1 source
Monthly pass	$90.00	2 sources

Gasoline (1L)

$0.87

Taxi start

$2.60

Monthly pass

$90.00

⚡

Utilities

Item	Price	Sources
Basic utilities (85m²)	$209.70	2 sources

Basic utilities (85m²)

$209.70

Prices in local currency, cross-referenced from multiple independent sources. August 2026.

Multi-Source Comparison

★★ Medium Confidence

Boston has a composite cost index of 65.9 from 3 independent data sources.

65.9

Composite

Sources

4.6

Spread

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Numbeo

61.3

Expatistan

65.9

LivingCost

No data

SIM

82.0

Eurostat Validation (EU27 = 100) Gov. Data

Eurostat

124.2

Based on 108 country PLI x 1.15 city factor

View all 127 cities | Data last updated: 2026-03-18

Indices de Coût

Coût de la Vie

+16.6% Expensive

Loyer

+31.3% Very expensive

Épicerie

+14.0% Expensive

Restaurants

+18.6% Expensive

Pouvoir d'Achat

-5.0% Average

Vivre à Boston : À Quoi S'Attendre

Boston est expensive selon les normes mondiales (classée #24 sur 558 villes). 16.6% plus cher que la moyenne de United States, basé sur 80 villes.

Les courses alimentaires sont expensive, tandis que les restaurants sont expensive. Groceries offre le meilleur rapport qualité-prix, tandis que Rent est le plus cher.

Le pouvoir d'achat local est limité — les résidents peuvent se permettre moins de biens et services que dans la plupart des villes.

Coût de la Vie à Boston

Prix des Loyers à Boston

Prices of Goods & Services in Boston

Groceries

Restaurants

Clothing & Shoes

Leisure

Transportation

Utilities

Multi-Source Comparison

Source Values (NYC = 100)

Indices de Coût

Vivre à Boston : À Quoi S'Attendre

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