City comparison
New York vs Boston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between New York (166.9) and Boston (144.3).
New York Index
166.9
Boston Index
144.3
New York Rent
$4,850
Boston Rent
$3,775
New York Home price
$787,000
Boston Home price
$722,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in New York to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Boston.
Equivalent salary in Boston
$123,636
Based on the relative overall cost of living between New York and Boston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | New York | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 245 | 198 | -47.0 (-19.2%) |
| Groceries | 138 | 122 | -16.0 (-11.6%) |
| Transportation | 121 | 114 | -7.0 (-5.8%) |
| Healthcare | 117 | 113 | -4.0 (-3.4%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 106 | -6.0 (-5.4%) |
| Miscellaneous | 134 | 121 | -13.0 (-9.7%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,110 / $6,790
New York / Boston
Couple
$13,620 / $11,270
New York / Boston
Family
$19,870 / $15,890
New York / Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View New York city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for New York.
View Boston city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Boston.
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.