City comparison
Boston vs New York Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and New York (166.9).
Boston Index
144.3
New York Index
166.9
Boston Rent
$3,775
New York Rent
$4,850
Boston Home price
$722,000
New York Home price
$787,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in New York.
Equivalent salary in New York
$138,794
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and New York.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | New York | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 245 | +47.0 (+23.7%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 138 | +16.0 (+13.1%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 121 | +7.0 (+6.1%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 117 | +4.0 (+3.5%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 112 | +6.0 (+5.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 134 | +13.0 (+10.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $8,110
Boston / New York
Couple
$11,270 / $13,620
Boston / New York
Family
$15,890 / $19,870
Boston / New York
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
Last updated: Q1 2026
Data as of Q1 2026. Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, HUD Fair Market Rents.
Cost of living indexes use the national average as baseline (100). Data is updated periodically.