SalaryCompareTool

Boston, MA vs Reno, NV

Moving from Boston to Reno? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($741,868 → $570,546 median home) and taxes.

Boston vs Reno at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Boston, MA Reno, NV Cost-of-living index Boston, MA — Cost-of-living index: 110 110 Reno, NV — Cost-of-living index: 98 98 Median home price Boston, MA — Median home price: $742k $742k Reno, NV — Median home price: $571k $571k Price per sqft Boston, MA — Price per sqft: $436 $436 Reno, NV — Price per sqft: $300 $300 Median rent Boston, MA — Median rent: $3,211 $3,211 Reno, NV — Median rent: $1,978 $1,978 Combined sales tax Boston, MA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Reno, NV — Combined sales tax: 8.2% 8.2% Property tax rate Boston, MA — Property tax rate: 1.14% 1.14% Reno, NV — Property tax rate: 0.48% 0.48% Violent crime /100k Boston, MA — Violent crime /100k: 330 330 Reno, NV — Violent crime /100k: 460 460 Electricity ¢/kWh Boston, MA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 29.4 29.4 Reno, NV — Electricity ¢/kWh: 14.3 14.3 Avg commute (min) Boston, MA — Avg commute (min): 31 31 Reno, NV — Avg commute (min): 22 22 Avg summer high °F Boston, MA — Avg summer high °F: 82° 82° Reno, NV — Avg summer high °F: 95° 95° Avg winter low °F Boston, MA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22° Reno, NV — Avg winter low °F: 30° 30°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Boston, MA, you'd need about $88,796 in Reno, NV (−$11,204).

Livability — Boston, MA: 48 · Reno, NV: 62 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 1,146 sqft in Boston vs 1,665 sqft in Reno ($436 vs $300 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBoston, MAReno, NVDifference
Housing $38,532 $23,736 −$14,796
Groceries $5,040 $4,841 −$198
Transportation $3,210 $4,740 +$1,530
Utilities $3,180 $1,548 −$1,632
Insurance $1,800 $1,300 −$500
Taxes $17,694 $5,060 −$12,634
Total $69,455 $41,225 −$28,230

Side by side

MetricBoston, MAReno, NV
Cost-of-living index110.498.0
Unemployment rate5.02%5.01%
Population growth (5-yr)2.9%9.2%
Air quality (median AQI)4350
Big Mac price (est.)$6.28$5.58
Median home price$741,868$570,546
Home price ÷ income6.9×7.0×
1-yr home appreciation1.6%0.0%
Price per square foot$436$300
Median rent$3,211$1,978
Total tax burden (% income)11.5%9.6%
Combined sales tax6.25%8.23%
Capital gains tax9.00%None
Property tax rate1.14%0.48%
Healthcare (annual)$8,200$6,400
Childcare (annual, infant)$21,000$11,000
Vehicle property tax2.25%2.12%
Avg commute (min)3122
Home insurance / yr$1,800$1,300
Auto insurance / yr$1,500$2,400
Flood insurance / yr$800$500
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$400
Electricity ¢/kWh29.414.3
Gas $/gal3.304.20
Violent crime /100k330460
Avg summer high °F8295
Avg winter low °F2230
Permit difficulty (1–5)43
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