Boston-Cambridge-Newton cost of living
Prices in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area run at 108.3 against a national average of 100, ranking it #19 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 148.4.
What drives the number
Boston-Cambridge-Newton is one of the most expensive places the Bureau of Economic Analysis measures, at 108.3 against a national 100, ranking #19 of 387 metro areas. Prices run 8.3 per cent above national, which is enough to swallow a substantial pay rise on its own. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 2.5 points more expensive, which is the usual direction: cities cost more than the states around them.
Housing is doing nearly all of the work. Rents sit at 148.4 while goods sit at 99.7, a gap of 40.1 points between what it costs to live somewhere and what it costs to buy things. Someone who could reduce their housing cost here, by living further out or with fewer rooms, would remove most of the premium.
Comparing a job here against one elsewhere on the headline salary alone will mislead by roughly 8.3 per cent. Adjusting by the parity fixes that.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Boston-Cambridge-Newton is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 76,980 | $129,850 | $119,898 | $102,950 |
| Registered Nurses | 66,440 | $102,440 | $94,589 | $93,600 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 63,880 | $39,790 | $36,741 | $34,900 |
| Retail Salespersons | 62,540 | $36,570 | $33,767 | $34,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 57,320 | $35,430 | $32,715 | $30,480 |
| Software Developers | 48,200 | $154,240 | $142,419 | $133,080 |
| Cashiers | 45,260 | $35,150 | $32,456 | $31,190 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 44,220 | $46,230 | $42,687 | $35,930 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 108.3.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester-Nashua | 105.7 | 134.2 | #25 |
| Worcester | 102.5 | 113.0 | #52 |
| Providence-Warwick | 101.8 | 103.9 | #59 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 100.2 | 97.5 | #84 |
| Barnstable Town | 98.4 | 90.0 | #103 |
| Springfield | 96.1 | 75.8 | #144 |
Boston-Cambridge-Newton: common questions
Is Boston-Cambridge-Newton expensive?
Prices are 8.3% above the national average, a parity of 108.3 where the country is 100. It ranks #19 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 2.5 points more expensive.
What salary do you need in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The median worker there earns $64,620, which buys what $59,668 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 148.4 against goods at 99.7. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.