Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael, CA and Boston, MA Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael, CA and Boston, MA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,981 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $4,411 in Boston, MA, rent included.

A couple spends around $6,381 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $6,080 in Boston, MA, rent included.

A family of three spends $7,780 per month in San Rafael, CA vs $7,748 in Boston, MA, rent included.

San Rafael, CA costs about 13% more than Boston, MA, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Rafael, CA and Boston, MA sit above the global median – San Rafael, CA by 264%, Boston, MA by 222%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$28.40 $28.40

$29.96 $29.96

-5.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$111 $111

$121 $121

-7.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.85 $11.85

$11.98 $11.98

-1.09%

Cappuccino

$4.71 $4.71

$5.27 $5.27

-10.63%

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

$3.08 $3.08

$3.20 $3.20

-3.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 $3.02

$2.45 $2.45

23.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.07 $6.07

$7.85 $7.85

-22.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.87 $6.87

$9.17 $9.17

-25.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.28 $1.28

13.28%

White Bread (500g)

$4.24 $4.24

$4.17 $4.17

1.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$9.67 $9.67

$6.52 $6.52

48.31%

Eggs

$5.52 $5.52

$6.02 $6.02

-8.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$21.07 $21.07

$15.02 $15.02

40.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$16.96 $16.96

$14.06 $14.06

20.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.17 $19.17

$18.63 $18.63

2.90%

Apples (1kg)

$7.33 $7.33

$7.59 $7.59

-3.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.80 $2.80

$1.92 $1.92

45.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.62 $6.62

$5.39 $5.39

22.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$8.74 $8.74

$7.04 $7.04

24.15%

Potato (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$3.68 $3.68

53.26%

Onion (1kg)

$4.57 $4.57

$4.01 $4.01

13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.16 $3.16

$2.92 $2.92

8.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.76 $3.76

$2.95 $2.95

27.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.07 $11.07

$12.50 $12.50

-11.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.79 $13.79

$16.66 $16.66

-17.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 $2.23

$3.10 $3.10

-28.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 $3.21

$5.37 $5.37

-40.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.36 $2.36

-16.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$65.7 $65.7

$88.3 $88.3

-25.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.99 $3.99

$2.61 $2.61

52.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.25 $4.25

$1.79 $1.79

137.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$28.65 $28.65

$28.07 $28.07

2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 $1.36

$1.06 $1.06

28.30%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$36.9K $36.9K

-12.16%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$25.4K $25.4K

6.69%

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

$254 $254

$263 $263

-3.38%

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

$85.6 $85.6

$54.4 $54.4

57.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.0 $62.0

$83.8 $83.8

-26.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$120 $120

$84.2 $84.2

43.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.41 $29.41

$42.71 $42.71

-31.14%

Cinema Ticket

$13.81 $13.81

$15.80 $15.80

-12.59%

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

$2,076 $2,076

$2,828 $2,828

-26.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$24.1K $24.1K

$35.7K $35.7K

-32.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.6 $60.6

$74.5 $74.5

-18.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$48.71 $48.71

-12.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.9 $93.9

$120 $120

-21.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$129 $129

$170 $170

-23.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,381 $3,381

$3,379 $3,379

0.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,234 $3,234

$2,633 $2,633

22.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,226 $4,226

$6,024 $6,024

-29.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,975 $3,975

$3,930 $3,930

1.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,549 $7,549

$13.5K $13.5K

-44.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$5,340 $5,340

$6,472 $6,472

-17.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$6,855 $6,855

$5,998 $5,998

14.30%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.28

-4.46%

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

Last update for San Rafael, CA: September 13, 2026

Last update for Boston, MA: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,381 in San Rafael, CA versus $3,379 in Boston, MA. 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 14% higher in San Rafael, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $111 in San Rafael, CA versus $121 in Boston, MA. Groceries tell a different story – $576 in San Rafael, CA vs $508 in Boston, MA – 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

San Rafael, CA vs Boston, MA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

San Rafael, CA costs about 13% more than Boston, MA, 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 $7,472 per month in San Rafael, CA and $6,617 in Boston, MA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 13% more in San Rafael, CA, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $111 in San Rafael, CA and $121 in Boston, MA. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,981 in San Rafael, CA and $4,411 in Boston, MA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Boston, MA costs $4,411 versus $4,981 in San Rafael, CA. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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