City comparison
Boston vs Portland Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and Portland (120.2).
Boston Index
144.3
Portland Index
120.2
Boston Rent
$3,775
Portland Rent
$2,675
Boston Home price
$722,000
Portland Home price
$500,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Portland.
Equivalent salary in Portland
$99,958
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and Portland.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 145 | -53.0 (-26.8%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 112 | -10.0 (-8.2%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 107 | -7.0 (-6.1%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 104 | -9.0 (-8.0%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 101 | -5.0 (-4.7%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 109 | -12.0 (-9.9%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $5,440
Boston / Portland
Couple
$11,270 / $9,030
Boston / Portland
Family
$15,890 / $12,730
Boston / Portland
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
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.