City profile
Boston, MA cost of living
MA · BLS RPP 112
Overall RPP
112
US = 100
Housing RPP
150.3
Housing component
Goods RPP
110.1
Goods component
2-BR Rent (HUD)
$2,827/mo
FY2024 FMR
Where Boston, MA sits in the verified metro set
RPP rank
#8 of 67
+12.0 vs U.S. average
Vs median metro
+13.6
median RPP 98.4
2-BR rent rank
#4 of 67
+1,221/mo vs median verified metro
RPP ranks use only verified ReloMath metro records. Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities by MSA, 2022 (Table 4); HUD FY2024 Fair Market Rents (2-BR); reviewed June 2026. These are official published averages, not neighborhood-level prices.
Who’s moving in and out of Boston, MA
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Cost of living is only half the relocation question. The other half is which way people are actually voting with their feet, straight from IRS tax-return migration for the Boston, MA metro.
Moved in
213,508
people · 146,325 households
Moved out
253,473
people · 168,024 households
Net
−39,965
net loss of residents
Net migration rank
#60 of 65
among IRS-covered ReloMath metros
Vs median net flow
-39,861
median -104 people
Largest flow share
4% in / 5% out
top named county shares
Where new residents came from
- Worcester County, MA 8,229
- Bristol County, MA 6,637
- Hillsborough County, NH 5,691
- Barnstable County, MA 3,258
- Providence County, RI 2,254
Where residents moved to
- Worcester County, MA 13,397
- Bristol County, MA 10,547
- Hillsborough County, NH 8,736
- Barnstable County, MA 4,330
- Providence County, RI 3,740
Counts are IRS tax filers (returns ≈ households, individuals ≈ exemptions) who changed address between 2021-2022. Flows too small for IRS to disclose are grouped and excluded from the named lists. Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration data ↗, mapped to metros via the U.S. Census CBSA delineation.
What salary do you need in Boston, MA?
Equivalent salary to maintain the same purchasing power as in a US-average city (RPP 100).
| In US-average city | You need in Boston, MA | Formula |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $56,000 | $50,000 x (112/100) |
| $75,000 | $84,000 | $75,000 x (112/100) |
| $100,000 | $112,000 | $100,000 x (112/100) |
| $125,000 | $140,000 | $125,000 x (112/100) |
| $150,000 | $168,000 | $150,000 x (112/100) |
| $200,000 | $224,000 | $200,000 x (112/100) |
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
State income tax note
Massachusetts flat income tax 5.0%. No city income tax.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Boston, MA?
- Boston, MA has a BLS Regional Price Parity of 112 (US average = 100). It is 12.0% more expensive than the national average.
- What salary do I need to live in Boston, MA?
- If you earn $100,000 in a US-average city (RPP 100), you would need approximately $112,000 in Boston, MA to maintain the same purchasing power.
- What is the average rent in Boston, MA?
- The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Boston, MA is approximately $2,827 per month as of FY2024.
- Are people moving to or away from Boston, MA?
- Based on IRS tax-return migration data for 2021-2022, about 213,508 people moved into the Boston, MA metro and 253,473 moved out — a net loss of roughly 39,965 residents. The largest single source of new residents was Worcester County, MA.
Curated nearby & similar cities
Similar verified metros by RPP
These links are chosen by data proximity: closest overall RPP to Boston, MA, with HUD 2-BR rent as a tie-breaker.
Curated cost-of-living comparisons for Boston, MA
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