Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakland, CA and Boston, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between Oakland, CA and Boston, MA

😐 Solo nomad: Oakland, CA is 1.4% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 19.7% cheaper with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Oakland, CA is 3.8% more expensive than Boston, MA without rent, and 0.5% cheaper with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$29.9 $29.9

$24.58 $24.58

21.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 $145

$130 $130

11.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$14.38 $14.38

$11.32 $11.32

27.03%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$5.5 $5.5

-12.91%

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

$2.65 $2.65

$3.1 $3.1

-14.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 $2.15

$2.44 $2.44

-11.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 $8.07

$7.83 $7.83

3.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$8.79 $8.79

-7.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.26 $1.26

12.70%

White Bread (500g)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.25 $4.25

18.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$6.15 $6.15

$6.55 $6.55

-6.11%

Eggs

$6.86 $6.86

$4.66 $4.66

47.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.44 $20.44

$16.61 $16.61

23.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.85 $14.85

$13.79 $13.79

7.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.6 $16.6

$20.3 $20.3

-18.23%

Apples (1kg)

$7.69 $7.69

$5.89 $5.89

30.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$2.12 $2.12

5.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.35 $6.35

$6.43 $6.43

-1.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$6.06 $6.06

$7.98 $7.98

-24.06%

Potato (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$4.44 $4.44

-1.35%

Onion (1kg)

$3.37 $3.37

$3.68 $3.68

-8.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.18 $2.18

$2.75 $2.75

-20.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.54 $2.54

21.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.08 $11.08

$13.64 $13.64

-18.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.2 $12.2

$17.13 $17.13

-28.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.92 $2.92

-41.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.03 $4.03

$5.48 $5.48

-26.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.09 $3.09

$2.33 $2.33

32.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$86.1 $86.1

$88.9 $88.9

-3.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.6 $3.6

$2.62 $2.62

37.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.44 $2.44

$1.76 $1.76

38.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$39.3 $39.3

$27.96 $27.96

40.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.3 $1.3

$0.88 $0.88

47.73%

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

$23.9K $23.9K

$30.5K $30.5K

-21.73%

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

$26.1K $26.1K

$25.6K $25.6K

1.86%

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

$278 $278

$191 $191

45.69%

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

$53.8 $53.8

$58.1 $58.1

-7.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 $72.5

$77.9 $77.9

-6.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.6 $53.6

$80 $80

-32.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.83 $12.83

$30.42 $30.42

-57.82%

Cinema Ticket

$14.72 $14.72

$15.37 $15.37

-4.23%

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

$2,694 $2,694

$2,755 $2,755

-2.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$37.9K $37.9K

$27.2K $27.2K

39.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 $62.2

$67.8 $67.8

-8.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 $60.4

$44.6 $44.6

35.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.5 $94.5

$104 $104

-8.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$126 $126

$150 $150

-16.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,935 $1,935

$3,432 $3,432

-43.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,715 $1,715

$2,610 $2,610

-34.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,510 $4,510

$6,218 $6,218

-27.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,602 $3,602

$3,949 $3,949

-8.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,068 $7,068

$9,631 $9,631

-26.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,087 $7,087

$6,118 $6,118

15.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,604 $5,604

$6,166 $6,166

-9.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.55

6.43

1.87%

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

Last update for Oakland, CA: October 28, 2025

Last update for Boston, MA: October 28, 2025

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