Cost of living in Boston, MA

Livability score 48 · cost-of-living index 110.4 (US = 100)

How Boston compares

Where Boston falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).

Map of Boston

Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.

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Cost of living

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	110.4	metro-area	#187 of 200
Grocery index (US=100)	100.8	metro-area	#161 of 200
Big Mac price (est.)	$6.28	metro-area	#187 of 200
Median household income	$107,117	metro-area	#6 of 200
Median wage (all occupations)	$56,419	metro-area	#5 of 200

Who lives here

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median age	39.3 years	metro-area	#120 of 200
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)	51.2%	metro-area	#8 of 200
Foreign-born residents	19.7%	metro-area	#30 of 200
Homes that are owner-occupied	61.8%	metro-area	#159 of 200

Economy

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Unemployment rate	5.02%	metro-area	#92 of 200
Population growth (5-yr)	+2.9%	metro-area	#125 of 200

Housing — what your money buys

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Median home price	$741,868	metro-area	#188 of 200
Home price ÷ income (affordability)	6.9×	metro-area	#180 of 200
1-yr home appreciation	+1.6%	metro-area	#96 of 200
Price per square foot	$436	metro-area	#188 of 200
Typical home size (implied)	1,700 sqft
Median rent (monthly)	$3,211	metro-area	#195 of 200
Homes for sale (inventory)	10,977
Median days on market	8	metro-area	#29 of 200

Taxes

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Total tax burden (est. % of income)	11.5%	state	#148 of 200
Combined sales tax	6.25%	state	#29 of 200
State income tax (top rate)	9.00%
Capital gains tax	9.00%	state	#160 of 200
High earners	4% surtax on income over ~$1M (the 'Fair Share'/millionaires tax)
Social Security in retirement	Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits
Effective property tax rate	1.14%	metro-area	#125 of 200
Median property tax paid	$6,506	metro-area	#191 of 200

Health & childcare

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Life expectancy at birth	80.5 years	metro-area	#15 of 200
Healthcare (annual, single adult)	$8,200	state	#193 of 200
Uninsured (share of residents)	2.9%	metro-area	#1 of 200
Primary care providers per 100k	109	metro-area	#10 of 200
Childcare (annual, infant, center)	$21,000	state	#197 of 200

Vehicles & commute

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Annual registration	$60	state	#19 of 200
Vehicle property tax (annual)	2.25% of value (~$630/yr)	state	#181 of 200
Emissions testing	Required
Emissions detail	Required in major metro counties
DMV & license offices	4
Avg commute to work	31 min	metro-area	#190 of 200
Commute by driving alone	58.9%	metro-area	#5 of 200
Solo drivers commuting 30+ min	46.8%	metro-area	#191 of 200

Utilities & fuel

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Electricity	29.4¢/kWh	state	#166 of 200
Avg monthly electric bill	$265	state	#166 of 200
Gasoline	$3.30/gal	state	#94 of 200
Natural gas (avg monthly bill)	$108	state	#198 of 200
Water & sewer (avg monthly bill)	$71	state	#25 of 200
Home internet (avg monthly bill)	$78	state	#77 of 200

Insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Home insurance (annual)	$1,800	state	#100 of 200
Auto insurance (annual)	$1,500	state	#41 of 200

Disaster risk & supplemental insurance

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Main natural hazards	Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed.
FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk)	93.2 — Relatively Moderate	metro-area	#130 of 200
Flood insurance (annual, NFIP)	$800	state	#120 of 200
Earthquake insurance (annual)	$100	state	#1 of 200

Climate & air quality

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner)	43	metro-area	#70 of 200
Cooling degree-days (AC load)	700	metro-area	#25 of 200
Homes with air conditioning (state)	87%	state	#151 of 200
Heating degree-days (heat load)	5,600	metro-area	#138 of 200
Days per year ≥ 90°F	10	metro-area	#45 of 200
Days per year ≥ 100°F	0	metro-area	#5 of 200
Avg summer high (state)	82°F	metro-area	#10 of 200
Avg winter low	22°F	metro-area	#130 of 200
Annual precipitation	43.6"	metro-area	#101 of 200
Annual snowfall	49.2"	metro-area	#175 of 200
Sunshine (% of possible)	58%	metro-area	#105 of 200
Plant hardiness zone	6b
Frost window	04-20 → 10-20

Safety

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Violent crime (per 100k, state avg)	330	state	#43 of 200
Property crime (per 100k, state avg)	1,100	state	#3 of 200

Local amenities & recreation

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Grocery stores	24	metro-area	#150 of 200
Parks	77
Hiking areas	14
Golf courses	20
Shooting ranges	1
Lakes	4

Permits

Metric	Value	Scope	US rank
Building permit difficulty (1–5)	4	state	#147 of 200
Permit detail	Difficult; zoning + review

US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.

Top employers in Boston

Major public and private employers in the Boston, MA area.

Employer	Sector	Jobs
CVS Health	Healthcare	Careers →
Mass General Brigham	Healthcare	Search →
Vertex Pharmaceuticals	pharmaceutical	Careers →
Fidelity Investments	Finance	Careers →
State Street	Finance	Careers →
Liberty Mutual	insurance	Careers →