Cost of living, Boston
108.3
BEA Regional Price Parity vs US average of 100 (2024). Boston sits about 8.3% above national prices.
BLS OEWS median, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. BEA RPP all-items, 2024. Disclaimer
- vs US
- +8.3%
- Metro
- Boston
- CBSA
- 14460
Boston all-items RPP is 108.3 (2024), about 8.3% above US-average prices. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $97,470 here for equal purchasing power.
Price components in Boston
| Component | Boston | US |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.3 | 100 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 100 |
| Housing (rents) | 148.4 | 100 |
| Other services | 103.6 | 100 |
BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, US = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Boston
| At US average | In Boston |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $64,980 |
| $90,000 | $97,470 |
| $150,000 | $162,450 |
Local equivalent = national salary × (108.3 ÷ 100). BEA RPP 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Boston?
- The BEA Regional Price Parity (all items, 2024) for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is 108.3, versus a US average of 100 (+8.3%).
- How is RPP different from CPI?
- CPI tracks price change over time. RPP compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100. PayByCity uses RPP for cross-metro purchasing power, including goods, housing rents, and other services components.
- How should I use this with OEWS wages?
- Pair local BLS OEWS medians (May 2025) with this RPP. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $97,470 in Boston for equal purchasing power.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. All-items RPP is a broad price-level index. Component indexes show goods, rents, and other services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, goods, housing rents, other services)
- BLS OEWS median wages, percentile bands, and employment where published
- Purchasing-power math: salary × (destination RPP ÷ origin RPP)
Does not include
- Federal, state, or local income taxes
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. OEWS employment is a published stock estimate, not hiring demand
Highest wages here
- Physicians, All Other , 6,350 OEWS emp. $229,870
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 20,530 OEWS emp. $214,960
- Marketing Managers , 11,940 OEWS emp. $213,910
- Financial Managers , 21,650 OEWS emp. $209,780
- Sales Managers , 11,540 OEWS emp. $206,610
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 6,690 OEWS emp. $205,130
See methodology and disclaimer.