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 $4,208 per month in Boston, MA vs $3,598 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,971 per month in Boston, MA vs $5,539 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,734 per month in Boston, MA vs $7,479 in Seattle, WA, rent included.

Boston, MA costs about 17% more than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Boston, MA and Seattle, WA sit above the global median – Boston, MA by 214%, Seattle, WA by 168%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$25.35 $25.35

$24.80 $24.80

2.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$129 $129

$118 $118

9.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.14 $11.14

$13.77 $13.77

-19.10%

Cappuccino

$5.51 $5.51

$5.71 $5.71

-3.50%

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

$3.07 $3.07

$3.05 $3.05

0.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 $2.46

$2.50 $2.50

-1.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

$7.83 $7.83

2.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.96 $8.96

$7.88 $7.88

13.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 $1.31

$1.35 $1.35

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$4.17 $4.17

$5.06 $5.06

-17.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$5.39 $5.39

18.92%

Eggs

$4.83 $4.83

$6.85 $6.85

-29.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.07 $17.07

$25.07 $25.07

-31.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.56 $13.56

$15.85 $15.85

-14.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$20.22 $20.22

$20.59 $20.59

-1.80%

Apples (1kg)

$5.69 $5.69

$6.14 $6.14

-7.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 $2.19

$2.82 $2.82

-22.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.28 $6.28

$5.51 $5.51

13.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$7.85 $7.85

$6.74 $6.74

16.47%

Potato (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$3.15 $3.15

46.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.81 $3.81

$3.82 $3.82

-0.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.69 $2.69

4.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.64 $2.64

-1.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.70 $13.70

$11.65 $11.65

17.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.58 $16.58

$15.69 $15.69

5.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 $2.85

$2.93 $2.93

-2.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.65 $5.65

$4.24 $4.24

33.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.38 $2.38

$2.82 $2.82

-15.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$91.4 $91.4

$100 $100

-8.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 $2.64

$2.60 $2.60

1.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 $1.73

$1.72 $1.72

0.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.29 $28.29

$30.22 $30.22

-6.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.93 $0.93

$1.19 $1.19

-21.85%

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

$29.9K $29.9K

$32.7K $32.7K

-8.62%

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

$25.0K $25.0K

$26.1K $26.1K

-4.26%

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

$194 $194

$263 $263

-26.15%

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

$58.9 $58.9

$60.9 $60.9

-3.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$79.3 $79.3

$75.9 $75.9

4.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.5 $80.5

$79.6 $79.6

1.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.51 $30.51

$39.89 $39.89

-23.51%

Cinema Ticket

$15.58 $15.58

$16.27 $16.27

-4.24%

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

$2,830 $2,830

$2,281 $2,281

24.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$27.0K $27.0K

$29.3K $29.3K

-7.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 $66.9

$68.6 $68.6

-2.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.18 $44.18

$52.0 $52.0

-14.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$116 $116

-13.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$148 $148

$143 $143

3.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,479 $3,479

$2,336 $2,336

48.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,638 $2,638

$1,863 $1,863

41.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,212 $6,212

$4,628 $4,628

34.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,944 $3,944

$3,477 $3,477

13.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$13.5K $13.5K

$7,766 $7,766

73.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,392 $6,392

$5,232 $5,232

22.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,939 $5,939

$6,617 $6,617

-10.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.43

6.42

0.16%

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

Last update for Boston, MA: May 31, 2026

Last update for Seattle, WA: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,479 in Boston, MA versus $2,336 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 11% 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 $129 in Boston, MA versus $118 in Seattle, WA. Groceries tell a different story – $508 in Boston, MA vs $547 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 17% 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 $6,312 per month in Boston, MA and $5,397 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 8% 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 $129 in Boston, MA and $118 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 $4,208 in Boston, MA and $3,598 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 $3,598 versus $4,208 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.