City comparison
Portland vs Boston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between Portland (120.2) and Boston (144.3).
Portland Index
120.2
Boston Index
144.3
Portland Rent
$2,675
Boston Rent
$3,775
Portland Home price
$500,000
Boston Home price
$722,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in Portland to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Boston.
Equivalent salary in Boston
$115,248
Based on the relative overall cost of living between Portland and Boston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | Portland | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 145 | 198 | +53.0 (+36.6%) |
| Groceries | 112 | 122 | +10.0 (+8.9%) |
| Transportation | 107 | 114 | +7.0 (+6.5%) |
| Healthcare | 104 | 113 | +9.0 (+8.7%) |
| Utilities | 101 | 106 | +5.0 (+5.0%) |
| Miscellaneous | 109 | 121 | +12.0 (+11.0%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$5,440 / $6,790
Portland / Boston
Couple
$9,030 / $11,270
Portland / Boston
Family
$12,730 / $15,890
Portland / Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View Portland city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for Portland.
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.