Route comparison
Boston, MA vs Hartford, CT: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Boston, MA and Hartford, CT. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Boston, MA
MA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 112
- Housing RPP
- 150.3
- Goods RPP
- 110.1
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,827/mo
Massachusetts flat income tax 5.0%. No city income tax.
Hartford, CT
CT
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 104.9
- Housing RPP
- 108.2
- Goods RPP
- 101.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,654/mo
Connecticut income tax 3%-6.99%.
Equivalent salary
Hartford, CT is cheaper than Boston, MA by about 6.3% (RPP 112 to 104.9).
$60,000 in Boston, MA
-> $56,196
in Hartford, CT
$100,000 in Boston, MA
-> $93,661
in Hartford, CT
$150,000 in Boston, MA
-> $140,491
in Hartford, CT
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.
Migration signal: Boston, MA vs Hartford, CT
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Boston, MA
- Net people
- −39,965
- Net rank
- #60 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 5%
Largest source: Worcester County, MA. Largest destination: Worcester County, MA.
Hartford, CT
- Net people
- −2,490
- Net rank
- #36 of 65
- Top origin share
- 11%
- Top destination share
- 8%
Largest source: South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT. Largest destination: Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT.
Rent delta: Hartford, CT is $1,173/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Boston, MA. Housing RPP moves from 150.3 to 108.2.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Hartford, CT cheaper or more expensive than Boston, MA?
- Hartford, CT (RPP 104.9) is cheaper than Boston, MA (RPP 112) by about 6.3%.
- What salary do I need in Hartford, CT if I earn $100,000 in Boston, MA?
- You would need approximately $93,661 in Hartford, CT to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston, MA. Formula: $100,000 x (104.9 / 112).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Boston, MA or Hartford, CT?
- For 2021-2022, Boston, MA had a net loss of 39,965 people, while Hartford, CT had a net loss of 2,490 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.