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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,369 per month in Boston, MA vs $3,836 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,167 per month in Boston, MA vs $5,763 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,965 per month in Boston, MA vs $7,691 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 14% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Boston, MA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 218%, Seattle, WA by 179%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.55 $30.55

$24.68 $24.68

23.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$119 $119

$99.1 $99.1

20.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.22 $12.22

$15.09 $15.09

-19.02%

Cappuccino

$5.33 $5.33

$6.62 $6.62

-19.49%

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

$3.20 $3.20

$3.13 $3.13

2.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.98 $2.98

-22.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.92 $7.92

$8.12 $8.12

-2.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.93 $8.93

$7.85 $7.85

13.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.28 $1.28

$1.17 $1.17

9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$4.19 $4.19

$5.20 $5.20

-19.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.47 $6.47

$6.40 $6.40

1.09%

Eggs

$5.86 $5.86

$4.91 $4.91

19.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.16 $15.16

$21.46 $21.46

-29.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.72 $13.72

$18.58 $18.58

-26.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.49 $18.49

$23.05 $23.05

-19.78%

Apples (1kg)

$7.47 $7.47

$5.79 $5.79

29.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 $1.89

$1.88 $1.88

0.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$5.38 $5.38

6.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.08 $7.08

$6.30 $6.30

12.38%

Potato (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$3.80 $3.80

-0.79%

Onion (1kg)

$3.91 $3.91

$3.26 $3.26

19.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.87 $2.87

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.84 $2.84

$2.71 $2.71

4.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.66 $12.66

$14.15 $14.15

-10.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.62 $16.62

$15.07 $15.07

10.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$4.36 $4.36

-29.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.75 $5.75

-1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.45 $2.45

$3.06 $3.06

-19.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.3 $91.3

$110 $110

-17.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.57 $2.57

2.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.65 $1.65

6.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.06 $28.06

$29.88 $29.88

-6.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 $1.10

$1.38 $1.38

-20.29%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.4K $36.4K

-1.31%

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

$26.3K $26.3K

$25.1K $25.1K

4.72%

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

$259 $259

$296 $296

-12.48%

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

$53.4 $53.4

$71.3 $71.3

-25.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$83.4 $83.4

$88.0 $88.0

-5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.7 $85.7

$81.5 $81.5

5.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.17 $41.17

$35.70 $35.70

15.32%

Cinema Ticket

$15.36 $15.36

$18.33 $18.33

-16.20%

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

$2,838 $2,838

$3,067 $3,067

-7.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$35.6K $35.6K

$30.6K $30.6K

16.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 $74.2

$77.0 $77.0

-3.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.68 $48.68

$54.0 $54.0

-9.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$117 $117

$128 $128

-7.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$170 $170

$165 $165

2.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,312 $3,312

$2,418 $2,418

36.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,569 $2,569

$1,931 $1,931

33.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,941 $5,941

$4,756 $4,756

24.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,902 $3,902

$3,584 $3,584

8.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.9K $13.9K

$7,403 $7,403

87.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,538 $6,538

$5,056 $5,056

29.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,003 $6,003

$6,320 $6,320

-5.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

6.42

-2.18%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: August 30, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,312 in Boston, MA versus $2,418 in Seattle, WA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 5% higher in Seattle, WA, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Boston, MA versus $99.0 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $505 in Boston, MA vs $554 in Seattle, WA – so Boston, MA wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Boston, MA vs Seattle, WA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boston, MA costs about 14% more than Seattle, WA, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,553 per month in Boston, MA and $5,754 in Seattle, WA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Seattle, WA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Boston, MA – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $119 in Boston, MA and $99.0 in Seattle, WA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,369 in Boston, MA and $3,836 in Seattle, WA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Seattle, WA costs $3,836 versus $4,369 in Boston, MA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Seattle, WA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Boston, MA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.