City comparison

Miami vs Boston Cost of Living

Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Miami (132.2) and Boston (144.3).

Miami Index
132.2
Boston Index
144.3
Miami Rent
$3,325
Boston Rent
$3,775
Miami Home price
$607,000
Boston Home price
$722,000

Salary equivalent calculator

Enter your current salary in Miami to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Boston.

Equivalent salary in Boston
$120,068
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Miami and Boston.

Category-by-category differences

Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.

CategoryMiamiBostonDifference
Housing172198+26.0 (+15.1%)
Groceries116122+6.0 (+5.2%)
Transportation106114+8.0 (+7.5%)
Healthcare108113+5.0 (+4.6%)
Utilities111106-5.0 (-4.5%)
Miscellaneous115121+6.0 (+5.2%)

Budget comparison

Single
$6,210 / $6,790
Miami / Boston
Couple
$10,310 / $11,270
Miami / Boston
Family
$14,530 / $15,890
Miami / Boston

Frequently Asked Questions

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.