How Much Does It Cost to Live In Boston, MA?
Having in mind the fact that nowadays the United States has turned into a wanted destination even though it is not a relatively cheap country, a very frequently asked question is what the cost of living is in each of its states and cities.
People are interested in this since the United States is considered a country with a pretty high standard of living, thus making it a very attractive one both for tourists and those who want to start living there.
United States : Cost of Living by City
- Albany, NY
- Albuquerque, NM
- Anchorage, AK
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Arlington, TX
- Asheville, NC
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Bakersfield, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Birmingham, AL
- Boise, ID
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Brooklyn, NY
- Buffalo, NY
- Burlington, VT
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chattanooga, TN
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbia, SC
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Dayton, OH
- Denver, CO
- Des Moines, IA
- Detroit, MI
- El Paso, TX
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Fort Myers, FL
- Fort Wayne, IN
- Fort Worth, TX
- Fresno, CA
- Gainesville, FL
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greensboro, NC
- Hartford, CT
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntsville, AL
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kansas City, MO
- Knoxville, TN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lexington, KY
- Little Rock, AR
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lubbock, TX
- Madison, WI
- Memphis, TN
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New Orleans, LA
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Olympia, WA
- Orlando, FL
- Peoria, IL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, ME
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Reno, NV
- Richmond, VA
- Rochester, NY
- Sacramento, CA
- Saint Louis, MO
- Saint Paul, MN
- Saint Petersburg, FL
- Salem, OR
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Santa Barbara, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, MO
- Syracuse, NY
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
- Tulsa, OK
- Vancouver, WA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Washington, DC
- West Palm Beach, FL
- Wichita, KS
RESTAURANTS
When it comes to restaurants, they are definitely more expensive than in most of the other countries in the world, due to the high prices of alcohol and food.
It can be said that you will not be able to save much money if you dine out daily.
MARKETS
Unlike those who frequently visit restaurants, there are people who love cooking, so what they will need to do is to get some food from the market, which would be the ideal solution if you want to save on food.
Fruit and vegetables found at the market are not as expensive as in supermarkets and local stores.
TRANSPORTATION
You cannot save some money on food, but you can be careful when transportation is in question and use the means which are more affordable.
Cars are expensive, and gas prices are as well, so you can use public transportation which is affordable and reliable in Boston.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities prices vary here, depending on the number of people living in one place, their spending habits, and the season, as well.
Central heating, water, electricity, and garbage bills will be higher during winter months.
High-speed Internet is often 65$ per month while those who want to use a cell phone will have to pay $0.09 per minute.
SPORTS & LEISURE
As in most of countries, sports people will need to give a little bit more money, if they want to fulfill their desires and exercise regularly.
Fitness centers usually cost around $84.68 per month while tennis courts are even more expensive with prices going up to $22.50 per hour.
CLOTHING & SHOES
How much one can spend on clothes is an individual thing, and when it comes to designer clothes a person fond of shopping can spend a fortune in Boston.
Quality shoes and jeans reach $89.45, while dresses can be found at the price of just $40.5
RENT PER MONTH
Your possible costs of rent in Boston would depend on whether you are living alone or with a family.
A studio apartment for one or two people can be from $2000 to $2800 per month while a family will need to pay a higher price for a bigger flat.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Boston, MA
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $24.0 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $8.00 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $2.25 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.15 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $4.32 |
| Eggs (12) | $5.39 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $2.40 |
| Monthly Pass | $90.00 |
| Gasoline | $0.97 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $197.42 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.09 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $64.4 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $84.68 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $22.50 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $15 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $57.37 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $40.5 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $89.45 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $2808.72 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $2041.4 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $5285.06 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Boston, MA?
According to the data, it can be concluded that buying food, renting a flat, and paying for transportation are the costs that take the most money in Boston.
Decreasing the restaurant expenses is possible as you can enjoy a decent meal in less expensive restaurants, but eating out more than twice a week in the restaurants in the city center would affect your budget too much.
It is interesting that more money is spent on sports and leisure, than on clothes, which take the last place on the scale.
Average Costs Breakdown
Boston, MA: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Boston is a city where the prices are considered high if you are coming from a less developed country, but due to the fact that the locals’ salary is high too, it can be said that the prices are in line with it.
The location of the flat plays an important role, so it is advisable to rent an apartment away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, as those in the suburbs are always cheaper.
However, the real question is whether earning a wage here would be enough to cover all the expenses which are not at all low.
Boston Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Boston Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
