Boston, United States of America

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Cost of living in Boston

Real monthly costs in Boston, United States of America — USD, from the same data behind the Pro model.

Photo: Ian Howard, CC BY 2.5.

Boston ranks 17th of 19 priced cities in United States of America on cost — $3,935 a month in essentials, 82% above Omaha, the cheapest. The average net salary of $6,184 covers that 1.6×. 95.7 men per 100 women aged 20–39, measured at county level. PM2.5 averages 9.8 µg/m³ a year, 2× the WHO guideline of 5. Jan averages 0°C, Jul 23°C.

Essentials / mo$3,935rent + bills + food + transit
Men per 100 women95.7ages 20–39, county level
Avg net salary$6,184monthly, after tax
Safety score60/100higher = safer

Monthly cost breakdown

Rent outside centre plus utilities, groceries, dining and local transport make up the essentials figure. Not a full lifestyle budget.

ItemMonthly USD
Rent, 1-bed outside centre$2,600
Rent, 1-bed city centre$3,400
Groceries$308
Dining out$600
Utilities$337
Local transport$90
Essentials / mo$3,935
Avg net salary$6,184
Rent, 3-bed outside centre$3,916
Rent, 3-bed city centre$5,873

Single person, USD. Data updated July 27, 2026.

Everyday prices

What single items cost in Boston, in USD. The monthly figures above are built from these.

Eating out

ItemUSD
Meal, inexpensive restaurant$30.00
Meal for 2, mid-range, three courses$100.00
McMeal at McDonald's$12.00
Cappuccino, regular$5.11
Domestic beer, 0.5 L draught$8.00
Imported beer, 0.33 L bottle$9.00
Coke/Pepsi, 0.33 L$2.87
Water, 0.33 L bottle$2.31

Groceries

ItemUSD
Milk, 1 L$1.23
White bread, 500 g$4.08
White rice, 1 kg$6.62
Eggs, 12$5.88
Local cheese, 1 kg$15.07
Chicken fillets, 1 kg$13.98
Apples, 1 kg$7.49
Bananas, 1 kg$2.11
Tomatoes, 1 kg$7.17
Potatoes, 1 kg$4.43
Onions, 1 kg$4.03
Water, 1.5 L bottle$2.87

Transport & bills

ItemUSD
One-way ticket, local transport$2.40
Monthly transit pass$90.00
Taxi start$2.60
Taxi, 1 km$1.75
Gasoline, 1 L$1.00
Basic utilities, 85 m² flat$254.37
Internet, 60 Mbps+$82.96
Mobile plan, monthly$57.23

Leisure

ItemUSD
Gym, monthly$86.67
Cinema, one seat$15.00

Dating-age sex ratio

Boston has 95.7 men per 100 women aged 20–39 (county level). That is the 16th-highest of 19 United States of America cities we track. United States of America's national figure is 106.9, so Boston runs 11 below the country as a whole.

Every United States of America region by male-to-female ratio →

A supply figure, 20–39. The dating-pool model is in Pro.

Climate & air

Ten-year monthly means, 2015–2024 — a climate profile, not a forecast.

Air qualityPM2.5 9.8µg/m³, annual mean
Warmest month23°CJul
Coolest month0°CJan
Wettest month121 mmDec
MonthAvgFeelsHumidityCloudRain
Jan0.1°C-5°C67%60%111 mm
Feb0.7°C-4.2°C66%60%90 mm
Mar3.9°C-0.8°C63%59%108 mm
Apr8.9°C5.2°C66%63%104 mm
May14.6°C12.7°C69%63%73 mm
Jun19.5°C19.3°C73%60%78 mm
Jul23.2°C24.8°C75%58%95 mm
Aug22.7°C24.1°C75%55%69 mm
Sep18.9°C18.8°C76%55%91 mm
Oct13.3°C11.1°C75%55%111 mm
Nov7.3°C3.4°C68%48%81 mm
Dec2.9°C-1.6°C70%59%121 mm

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