Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and San Jose, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and San Jose, CA

😐 Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 1.3% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 7.5% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Boston, MA is 2.6% more expensive than San Jose, CA without rent, and 8.1% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.26 $25.26

$20.19 $20.19

25.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 $126

$101 $101

24.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 $11.15

$11.34 $11.34

-1.68%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.7 $5.7

-4.04%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$3.32 $3.32

-11.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.42 $2.42

-0.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$9.07 $9.07

-11.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.75 $8.75

$11.02 $11.02

-20.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.48 $1.48

-12.16%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.82 $4.82

-12.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.3 $6.3

$3.2 $3.2

96.87%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$4.9 $4.9

-6.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.78 $16.78

$21.5 $21.5

-21.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.5 $13.5

$15.1 $15.1

-10.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$22.78 $22.78

-10.10%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$6.22 $6.22

-6.11%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.56 $2.56

-18.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$4.75 $4.75

35.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.93 $7.93

$6.81 $6.81

16.45%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.59 $3.59

24.51%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$4.27 $4.27

-12.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.96 $2.96

-8.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.88 $2.88

-13.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 $13.41

$11.31 $11.31

18.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.04 $17.04

$14.71 $14.71

15.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.3 $2.3

22.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.45 $3.45

64.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.48 $2.48

-0.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 $88.6

$88.3 $88.3

0.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.6 $3.6

-26.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.81 $1.81

-2.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.43 $28.43

$30.07 $30.07

-5.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.33 $1.33

-28.57%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$30.4K $30.4K

0.62%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.7K $26.7K

-5.74%

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

$196 $196

$289 $289

-32.08%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$49.28 $49.28

18.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.7 $76.7

$66.8 $66.8

14.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80 $80

$125 $125

-36.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.59 $31.59

$30.83 $30.83

2.47%

Cinema Ticket

$15.32 $15.32

$15.8 $15.8

-3.04%

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

$2,826 $2,826

$1,962 $1,962

44.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.7K $27.7K

$25.6K $25.6K

8.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.7 $66.7

$52.1 $52.1

27.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$43.64 $43.64

1.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$87.4 $87.4

16.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$139 $139

7.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,462 $3,462

$2,989 $2,989

15.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$2,658 $2,658

-1.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,097 $6,097

$5,168 $5,168

17.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,025 $4,025

$4,636 $4,636

-13.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,979 $8,979

$10.5K $10.5K

-14.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,857 $5,857

$9,512 $9,512

-38.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,098 $6,098

$5,810 $5,810

4.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.51

-1.23%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: November 30, 2025

Last update for San Jose, CA: December 1, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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