City comparison
San Francisco vs Boston Cost of Living
Compare overall indexes, housing costs, and budget targets between San Francisco (177.2) and Boston (144.3).
San Francisco Index
177.2
Boston Index
144.3
San Francisco Rent
$5,250
Boston Rent
$3,775
San Francisco Home price
$935,000
Boston Home price
$722,000
Salary equivalent calculator
Enter your current salary in San Francisco to estimate the income needed for a similar lifestyle in Boston.
Equivalent salary in Boston
$122,150
Based on the relative overall cost of living between San Francisco and Boston.
Category-by-category differences
Use this table to see which categories make one city more or less expensive than the other.
| Category | San Francisco | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | 276 | 198 | -78.0 (-28.3%) |
| Groceries | 137 | 122 | -15.0 (-10.9%) |
| Transportation | 125 | 114 | -11.0 (-8.8%) |
| Healthcare | 114 | 113 | -1.0 (-0.9%) |
| Utilities | 112 | 106 | -6.0 (-5.4%) |
| Miscellaneous | 132 | 121 | -11.0 (-8.3%) |
Budget comparison
Single
$8,510 / $6,790
San Francisco / Boston
Couple
$14,470 / $11,270
San Francisco / Boston
Family
$21,280 / $15,890
San Francisco / Boston
Frequently Asked Questions
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View San Francisco city page
Open the full cost-of-living profile for San Francisco.
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.