Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Oakland, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Oakland, CA

🙂 Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 1.4% cheaper than Oakland, CA without rent, and 24.5% more expensive with rent.

🙂 Family of 3: Boston, MA is 3.7% cheaper than Oakland, CA without rent, and 0.5% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$24.58 $24.58

$29.9 $29.9

-17.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$130 $130

$145 $145

-10.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.32 $11.32

$14.38 $14.38

-21.28%

Cappuccino

$5.5 $5.5

$4.79 $4.79

14.82%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.1 $3.1

$2.65 $2.65

16.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.15 $2.15

13.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$8.07 $8.07

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.79 $8.79

$8.16 $8.16

7.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 $1.26

$1.42 $1.42

-11.27%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 $4.25

$5.04 $5.04

-15.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.55 $6.55

$6.15 $6.15

6.50%

Eggs

$4.66 $4.66

$6.86 $6.86

-32.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.61 $16.61

$20.44 $20.44

-18.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.79 $13.79

$14.85 $14.85

-7.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.3 $20.3

$16.6 $16.6

22.29%

Apples (1kg)

$5.89 $5.89

$7.69 $7.69

-23.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 $2.12

$2.24 $2.24

-5.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.43 $6.43

$6.35 $6.35

1.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.98 $7.98

$6.06 $6.06

31.68%

Potato (1kg)

$4.44 $4.44

$4.38 $4.38

1.37%

Onion (1kg)

$3.68 $3.68

$3.37 $3.37

9.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.75 $2.75

$2.18 $2.18

26.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$3.09 $3.09

-17.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.64 $13.64

$11.08 $11.08

23.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.13 $17.13

$12.2 $12.2

40.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.92 $2.92

$1.71 $1.71

70.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.48 $5.48

$4.03 $4.03

35.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.33 $2.33

$3.09 $3.09

-24.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.9 $88.9

$86.1 $86.1

3.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$3.6 $3.6

-27.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$2.44 $2.44

-27.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.96 $27.96

$39.3 $39.3

-28.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.3 $1.3

-32.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.5K $30.5K

$23.9K $23.9K

27.76%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.6K $25.6K

$26.1K $26.1K

-1.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$191 $191

$278 $278

-31.36%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.1 $58.1

$53.8 $53.8

8.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.9 $77.9

$72.5 $72.5

7.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80 $80

$53.6 $53.6

49.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.42 $30.42

$12.83 $12.83

137.10%

Cinema Ticket

$15.37 $15.37

$14.72 $14.72

4.42%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$2,755 $2,755

$2,694 $2,694

2.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.2K $27.2K

$37.9K $37.9K

-28.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.8 $67.8

$62.2 $62.2

8.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.6 $44.6

$60.4 $60.4

-26.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 $104

$94.5 $94.5

9.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 $150

$126 $126

19.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,432 $3,432

$1,935 $1,935

77.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,610 $2,610

$1,715 $1,715

52.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,218 $6,218

$4,510 $4,510

37.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,949 $3,949

$3,602 $3,602

9.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$9,631 $9,631

$7,068 $7,068

36.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,118 $6,118

$7,087 $7,087

-13.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,166 $6,166

$5,604 $5,604

10.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.55

-1.83%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Oakland, CA: October 28, 2025

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