City comparison
Boston vs San Diego Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Boston (144.3) and San Diego (141.4).
Boston Index
144.3
San Diego Index
141.4
Boston Rent
$3,775
San Diego Rent
$3,700
Boston Home price
$722,000
San Diego Home price
$738,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Boston to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in San Diego.
Equivalent salary in San Diego
$117,588
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Boston and San Diego.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Boston | San Diego | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 198 | 194 | -4.0 (-2.0%) |
| Groceries | 122 | 122 | +0.0 (+0.0%) |
| Transportation | 114 | 109 | -5.0 (-4.4%) |
| Healthcare | 113 | 110 | -3.0 (-2.7%) |
| Utilities | 106 | 108 | +2.0 (+1.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 121 | 118 | -3.0 (-2.5%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$6,790 / $6,650
Boston / San Diego
Couple
$11,270 / $11,040
Boston / San Diego
Family
$15,890 / $15,560
Boston / San Diego
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
View San Diego city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Diego.
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.