Boston vs San Francisco
Cost of Living (2026)

Boston is 38% less expensive than San Francisco.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Boston, MA

COL index162 ✓
State income tax5% ✓
Avg 1BR rent$2,900/mo ✓
Median home price$720K ✓
VS

San Francisco, CA

COL index224
State income tax9.3%
Avg 1BR rent$3,600/mo
Median home price$1350K

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryBoston indexSan Francisco indexDifference
Housing214 ✓297+83%
Groceries152 ✓209+57%
Transportation151 ✓205+54%
Healthcare156 ✓215+59%
Utilities144 ✓193+49%

Source: C2ER Cost of Living Index 2026. Index = 100 is US average. ✓ indicates lower cost.

Salary equivalency: Boston → San Francisco

What salary in San Francisco gives you the same purchasing power as your Boston salary?

Salary in BostonEquivalent in San FranciscoDifference
$60,000$89,000+$29,000
$80,000$118,000+$38,000
$100,000$148,000+$48,000
$130,000$192,000+$62,000
$150,000$222,000+$72,000
$200,000$296,000+$96,000

Boston vs San Francisco: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Boston, MA and San Francisco, CA, Boston comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 162 versus 224 for San Francisco — a difference of approximately 38%.

State income tax impact

Boston workers pay 5% Massachusetts state income tax, while San Francisco workers pay 9.3%.

Housing costs

The median home price in Boston is $720,000, compared to $1,350,000 in San Francisco. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,900/month in Boston versus $3,600/month in San Francisco.

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