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

😐 Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 2.7% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 7.6% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Boston, MA is 8.6% more expensive than San Rafael, CA without rent, and 15.6% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.26 $25.26

$22.34 $22.34

13.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 $126

$65.9 $65.9

90.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.15 $11.15

$11 $11

1.36%

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$5.48 $5.48

-0.18%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$2.73 $2.73

7.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.44 $2.44

-1.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 $8.02

$6.11 $6.11

31.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.75 $8.75

$9.54 $9.54

-8.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$1.29 $1.29

0.78%

White Bread (500g)

$4.21 $4.21

$4.16 $4.16

1.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.3 $6.3

$6.88 $6.88

-8.43%

Eggs

$4.59 $4.59

$4.66 $4.66

-1.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.78 $16.78

$15.25 $15.25

10.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.5 $13.5

$12.78 $12.78

5.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.48 $20.48

$18.24 $18.24

12.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.84 $5.84

$4.78 $4.78

22.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 $2.09

$2.79 $2.79

-25.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.44 $6.44

$6.03 $6.03

6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.93 $7.93

$8.58 $8.58

-7.58%

Potato (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$3.88 $3.88

15.21%

Onion (1kg)

$3.75 $3.75

$3.97 $3.97

-5.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.72 $2.72

$2.49 $2.49

9.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.5 $2.5

$2.95 $2.95

-15.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.41 $13.41

$11.09 $11.09

20.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.04 $17.04

$12.68 $12.68

34.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.11 $2.11

33.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.67 $5.67

$3.34 $3.34

69.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.52 $1.52

61.84%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$88.6 $88.6

$30.21 $30.21

193.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$3.41 $3.41

-22.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.65 $1.65

7.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.43 $28.43

$29.66 $29.66

-4.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.25 $1.25

-24.00%

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

$30.6K $30.6K

$27.4K $27.4K

11.63%

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

$25.2K $25.2K

$26.9K $26.9K

-6.55%

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

$196 $196

$184 $184

6.86%

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

$58.3 $58.3

$51.8 $51.8

12.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.7 $76.7

$59.9 $59.9

28.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80 $80

$249 $249

-67.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.59 $31.59

$39.61 $39.61

-20.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.32 $15.32

$14.73 $14.73

4.01%

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

$2,826 $2,826

$1,975 $1,975

43.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.7K $27.7K

$23.4K $23.4K

18.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.7 $66.7

$40.59 $40.59

64.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$37.96 $37.96

16.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$101 $101

0.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$123 $123

20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,462 $3,462

$3,432 $3,432

0.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,625 $2,625

$2,801 $2,801

-6.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,097 $6,097

$3,979 $3,979

53.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,025 $4,025

$3,275 $3,275

22.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,979 $8,979

$7,553 $7,553

18.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,857 $5,857

$5,354 $5,354

9.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,098 $6,098

$5,260 $5,260

15.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.32

1.74%

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 Rafael, CA: November 30, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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