City comparison
Phoenix vs Boston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Phoenix (113.5) and Boston (144.3).
Phoenix Index
113.5
Boston Index
144.3
Phoenix Rent
$2,525
Boston Rent
$3,775
Phoenix Home price
$459,000
Boston Home price
$722,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Phoenix to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Boston.
Equivalent salary in Boston
$115,694
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Phoenix and Boston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Phoenix | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 136 | 198 | +62.0 (+45.6%) |
| Groceries | 101 | 122 | +21.0 (+20.8%) |
| Transportation | 103 | 114 | +11.0 (+10.7%) |
| Healthcare | 98 | 113 | +15.0 (+15.3%) |
| Utilities | 108 | 106 | -2.0 (-1.9%) |
| Miscellaneous | 101 | 121 | +20.0 (+19.8%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,160 / $6,790
Phoenix / Boston
Couple
$8,570 / $11,270
Phoenix / Boston
Family
$12,070 / $15,890
Phoenix / Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Phoenix city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Phoenix.
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.