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 12.6% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: New York, NY is 19.7% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 21.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.14 $30.14
$24.54 $24.54
22.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147 $147
$128 $128
14.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.62 $12.62
$11.32 $11.32
11.48%
Cappuccino
$6.00 $6.00
$5.44 $5.44
10.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 $3.35
$2.95 $2.95
13.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 $2.58
$2.44 $2.44
5.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.18 $8.18
$8.18 $8.18
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.99 $11.99
$8.78 $8.78
36.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 $1.61
$1.33 $1.33
21.05%
White Bread (500g)
$5.03 $5.03
$4.27 $4.27
17.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$8.40 $8.40
$6.53 $6.53
28.64%
Eggs
$7.10 $7.10
$4.64 $4.64
53.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.38 $17.38
$16.91 $16.91
2.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$16.18 $16.18
$13.44 $13.44
20.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$20.48 $20.48
$20.29 $20.29
0.94%
Apples (1kg)
$7.36 $7.36
$5.68 $5.68
29.58%
Banana (1kg)
$2.56 $2.56
$2.16 $2.16
18.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.71 $5.71
$6.35 $6.35
-10.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.24 $6.24
$7.64 $7.64
-18.32%
Potato (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.52 $4.52
-14.38%
Onion (1kg)
$4.11 $4.11
$3.75 $3.75
9.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.03 $3.03
$2.83 $2.83
7.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$2.62 $2.62
-2.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$19.07 $19.07
$13.57 $13.57
40.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.66 $19.66
$17.15 $17.15
14.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$2.82 $2.82
5.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.75 $3.75
$5.57 $5.57
-32.68%
🚌 Getting Around
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.46 $2.46
19.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$131 $131
$88.8 $88.8
47.04%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.07 $5.07
$2.66 $2.66
90.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.19 $2.19
$1.78 $1.78
23.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.49 $41.49
$27.90 $27.90
48.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$0.87 $0.87
12.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.5K $34.5K
$30.2K $30.2K
14.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K $28.3K
$25.4K $25.4K
11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$184 $184
$193 $193
-4.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.0 $59.0
$56.8 $56.8
3.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$61.9 $61.9
$78.2 $78.2
-20.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$141 $141
$81.3 $81.3
72.90%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$65.3 $65.3
$30.66 $30.66
112.88%
Cinema Ticket
$20.13 $20.13
$15.80 $15.80
27.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$3,191 $3,191
$2,824 $2,824
12.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$57.5K $57.5K
$27.5K $27.5K
109.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2 $67.2
$66.1 $66.1
1.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.98 $47.98
$44.60 $44.60
7.58%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 $111
$102 $102
9.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$170 $170
$147 $147
15.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,207 $4,207
$3,469 $3,469
21.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,717 $2,717
$2,625 $2,625
3.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$8,382 $8,382
$6,081 $6,081
37.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$5,127 $5,127
$3,929 $3,929
30.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$19.5K $19.5K
$12.7K $12.7K
54.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$8,862 $8,862
$6,445 $6,445
37.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New York, NY
Boston, MA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,228 $5,228
$6,579 $6,579
-20.53%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Boston, MA: April 11, 2026

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

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