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Boston, United States

How much does it really cost to live in Boston? Housing, food, transport, internet and more — plus what salary you need to live comfortably.

North America 👥 680,000 people 🌤️ Temperate climate Large city 🌊 Near the sea 💱 USD
$ $2,700 1-bedroom rent / mo
88 Quality of life / 100
65 Safety / 100
92 Internet / 100
10 Affordability / 100
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Estimated Monthly Cost

Single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Rent (1-bedroom)$2,700
Food (moderate)$650
Transport$100
Utilities$160
Internet$60
Healthcare$190
Entertainment$400
Total (moderate)$4,736
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Housing Costs

Typical monthly rent in Boston.

Shared accommodation$1,400
Studio$2,100
1-bedroom$2,700
2-bedroom$3,600
3-bedroom$4,700
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City Scores

How Boston rates, out of 100.

Cost of living
10
Safety
65
Quality of life
88
Internet
92
Healthcare
90
Transport
88
Nightlife
88
Climate
52
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At a Glance

  • Climate🌤️ Temperate
  • City sizeLarge
  • Near the seaYes 🌊
  • Geography🏙️ Urban
  • Capital cityWashington, D.C.
  • LanguageEnglish
  • CurrencyUSD
  • Time zoneAmerica/New_York
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Pros and Cons of Boston

✅ Pros

  • Relatively safe city
  • Fast and reliable internet
  • Good public transport network
  • Great overall quality of life
  • Good healthcare options
  • Located near the coast

⚠️ Cons

  • Higher cost of living
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Can You Live in Boston on These Salaries?

Estimated for a single person, moderate lifestyle, 1-bedroom apartment.

Monthly incomeStatusRemaining
$ 1,000 Very Difficult $-3,736 / month
$ 2,000 Very Difficult $-2,736 / month
$ 3,000 Very Difficult $-1,736 / month
$ 5,000 Affordable $264 / month
$ 8,000 Very Comfortable $3,264 / month