Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Seattle, WA Cost of Living Comparison Between Boston, MA and Seattle, WA

๐Ÿ™‚ Solo nomad: Boston, MA is 3.6% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 15.2% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ™‚ Family of 3: Boston, MA is 3.3% cheaper than Seattle, WA without rent, and 1.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.58 $24.58
$25.11 $25.11
-2.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130 $130
$118 $118
9.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.32 $11.32
$13.84 $13.84
-18.21%
Cappuccino
$5.5 $5.5
$5.8 $5.8
-5.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.1 $3.1
$2.95 $2.95
5.08%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44 $2.44
$2.51 $2.51
-2.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.83 $7.83
$7.81 $7.81
0.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.79 $8.79
$7.84 $7.84
12.12%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 $1.26
$1.34 $1.34
-5.97%
White Bread (500g)
$4.25 $4.25
$4.98 $4.98
-14.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.55 $6.55
$5.35 $5.35
22.43%
Eggs
$4.66 $4.66
$6.91 $6.91
-32.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.61 $16.61
$24.8 $24.8
-33.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.79 $13.79
$15.74 $15.74
-12.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.3 $20.3
$20.84 $20.84
-2.59%
Apples (1kg)
$5.89 $5.89
$6.05 $6.05
-2.64%
Banana (1kg)
$2.12 $2.12
$2.75 $2.75
-22.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.43 $6.43
$5.47 $5.47
17.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$7.98 $7.98
$6.45 $6.45
23.72%
Potato (1kg)
$4.44 $4.44
$3.11 $3.11
42.77%
Onion (1kg)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.69 $3.69
-0.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 $2.75
$2.78 $2.78
-1.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$2.52 $2.52
0.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$13.64 $13.64
$11.64 $11.64
17.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.13 $17.13
$17.15 $17.15
-0.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.94 $2.94
-0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.48 $5.48
$4.19 $4.19
30.79%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$2.8 $2.8
-16.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$88.9 $88.9
$101 $101
-11.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.62 $2.62
$2.68 $2.68
-2.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.65 $1.65
6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$27.96 $27.96
$30.13 $30.13
-7.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.16 $1.16
-24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$33.3K $33.3K
-8.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6K $25.6K
$26.3K $26.3K
-2.55%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$191 $191
$271 $271
-29.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.1 $58.1
$61.8 $61.8
-5.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.9 $77.9
$75.2 $75.2
3.60%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80 $80
$78.4 $78.4
1.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.42 $30.42
$41.04 $41.04
-25.88%
Cinema Ticket
$15.37 $15.37
$15.89 $15.89
-3.27%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,755 $2,755
$2,248 $2,248
22.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$27.2K $27.2K
$29K $29K
-6.32%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 $67.8
$69.5 $69.5
-2.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.6 $44.6
$52.5 $52.5
-15.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 $104
$120 $120
-13.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150 $150
$142 $142
5.19%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$2,376 $2,376
44.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,610 $2,610
$1,829 $1,829
42.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$6,218 $6,218
$4,702 $4,702
32.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,949 $3,949
$3,474 $3,474
13.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,631 $9,631
$6,928 $6,928
39.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,118 $6,118
$5,224 $5,224
17.12%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$6,166 $6,166
$6,473 $6,473
-4.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.43
6.42
0.16%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Seattle, WA: October 29, 2025

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