Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Boston, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between New York, NY and Boston, MA

😐 Solo nomad: New York, NY is 17% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 6.3% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 16.3% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 25.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.68 $29.68
$24.58 $24.58
20.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$130 $130
10.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.43 $12.43
$11.32 $11.32
9.81%
Cappuccino
$5.84 $5.84
$5.5 $5.5
6.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 $3.26
$3.1 $3.1
5.16%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.44 $2.44
5.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.24 $8.24
$7.83 $7.83
5.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.86 $11.86
$8.79 $8.79
34.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.56 $1.56
$1.26 $1.26
23.81%
White Bread (500g)
$5.23 $5.23
$4.25 $4.25
23.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.11 $8.11
$6.55 $6.55
23.82%
Eggs
$7.25 $7.25
$4.66 $4.66
55.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.08 $17.08
$16.61 $16.61
2.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.24 $16.24
$13.79 $13.79
17.77%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.02 $20.02
$20.3 $20.3
-1.38%
Apples (1kg)
$7.49 $7.49
$5.89 $5.89
27.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.12 $2.12
20.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.82 $5.82
$6.43 $6.43
-9.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.52 $6.52
$7.98 $7.98
-18.30%
Potato (1kg)
$3.72 $3.72
$4.44 $4.44
-16.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.9 $3.9
$3.68 $3.68
5.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.07 $3.07
$2.75 $2.75
11.64%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.57 $2.57
$2.54 $2.54
1.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.21 $19.21
$13.64 $13.64
40.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.79 $17.79
$17.13 $17.13
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.01 $3.01
$2.92 $2.92
3.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 $3.72
$5.48 $5.48
-32.12%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.92 $2.92
$2.33 $2.33
25.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$134 $134
$88.9 $88.9
50.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.13 $5.13
$2.62 $2.62
95.80%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.15 $2.15
$1.76 $1.76
22.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.57 $41.57
$27.96 $27.96
48.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$0.88 $0.88
7.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35K $35K
$30.5K $30.5K
14.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K $27.7K
$25.6K $25.6K
8.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$179 $179
$191 $191
-6.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$60 $60
$58.1 $58.1
3.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.8 $63.8
$77.9 $77.9
-18.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$80 $80
75.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$63.9 $63.9
$30.42 $30.42
110.06%
Cinema Ticket
$19.9 $19.9
$15.37 $15.37
29.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,206 $3,206
$2,755 $2,755
16.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$56.5K $56.5K
$27.2K $27.2K
107.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$65.7 $65.7
$67.8 $67.8
-3.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.75 $48.75
$44.6 $44.6
9.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$104 $104
7.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$172 $172
$150 $150
14.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,165 $4,165
$3,432 $3,432
21.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,653 $2,653
$2,610 $2,610
1.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,412 $8,412
$6,218 $6,218
35.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,277 $5,277
$3,949 $3,949
33.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$15.6K $15.6K
$9,631 $9,631
62.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.2K $11.2K
$6,118 $6,118
82.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,616 $5,616
$6,166 $6,166
-8.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.44
6.43
0.16%

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

Last update for New York, NY: October 28, 2025

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

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