Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Santa Clara, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Santa Clara, CA

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 2.6% more expensive than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 4.7% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Boston, MA is 0.6% more expensive than Santa Clara, CA without rent, and 2.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$25.36 $25.36
$24.77 $24.77
2.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126 $126
$111 $111
13.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.22 $11.22
$14.22 $14.22
-21.10%
Cappuccino
$5.45 $5.45
$5.77 $5.77
-5.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95 $2.95
$3.38 $3.38
-12.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 $2.46
$2.56 $2.56
-3.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.84 $7.84
$9.17 $9.17
-14.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.20 $9.20
$9.13 $9.13
0.77%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.31 $1.31
$1.43 $1.43
-8.39%
White Bread (500g)
$4.26 $4.26
$4.89 $4.89
-12.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.35 $6.35
$3.20 $3.20
98.44%
Eggs
$4.61 $4.61
$5.25 $5.25
-12.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.83 $16.83
$21.07 $21.07
-20.12%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.83 $13.83
$15.15 $15.15
-8.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.24 $20.24
$23.30 $23.30
-13.13%
Apples (1kg)
$5.90 $5.90
$6.00 $6.00
-1.67%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 $2.11
$2.89 $2.89
-26.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.23 $6.23
$4.80 $4.80
29.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.87 $7.87
$6.57 $6.57
19.79%
Potato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$3.54 $3.54
27.68%
Onion (1kg)
$3.77 $3.77
$3.82 $3.82
-1.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.89 $2.89
-4.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.49 $2.49
$2.72 $2.72
-8.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.49 $13.49
$11.30 $11.30
19.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.36 $17.36
$13.72 $13.72
26.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.33 $2.33
25.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47 $5.47
$3.21 $3.21
70.40%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.92 $2.92
-17.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$89.1 $89.1
$70.8 $70.8
25.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.53 $2.53
$4.07 $4.07
-37.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 $1.77
$1.91 $1.91
-7.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$28.09 $28.09
$29.98 $29.98
-6.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.93 $0.93
$1.28 $1.28
-27.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9K $29.9K
$30.0K $30.0K
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K $25.1K
$27.0K $27.0K
-6.98%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$194 $194
$222 $222
-12.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.9 $57.9
$48.67 $48.67
18.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.8 $76.8
$67.8 $67.8
13.30%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$81.1 $81.1
$99.9 $99.9
-18.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.94 $30.94
$12.31 $12.31
151.34%
Cinema Ticket
$15.48 $15.48
$17.04 $17.04
-9.15%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,767 $2,767
$1,980 $1,980
39.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.1K $27.1K
$26.3K $26.3K
3.02%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1 $67.1
$56.6 $56.6
18.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.00 $44.00
$44.10 $44.10
-0.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 $101
$89.4 $89.4
13.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$139 $139
7.73%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,401 $3,401
$3,031 $3,031
12.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,637 $2,637
$2,369 $2,369
11.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,146 $6,146
$4,213 $4,213
45.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,010 $4,010
$4,306 $4,306
-6.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$12.9K $12.9K
$8,940 $8,940
44.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,399 $6,399
$9,058 $9,058
-29.35%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Boston, MA
Santa Clara, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,390 $6,390
$7,877 $7,877
-18.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.51
-1.23%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Boston, MA: March 1, 2026

Last update for Santa Clara, CA: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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