Miami vs Boston
Cost of Living (2026)

Miami is 32% less expensive than Boston. Plus, Florida has no state income tax vs Massachusetts's 5%.

Enter your salary → get exact comparison

At a glance

Miami, FL

COL index123 ✓
State income taxNone ✓
Avg 1BR rent$2,300/mo ✓
Median home price$600K ✓
VS

Boston, MA

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

Cost breakdown by category

CategoryMiami indexBoston indexDifference
Housing161 ✓214+53%
Groceries116 ✓152+36%
Transportation116 ✓151+35%
Healthcare119 ✓156+37%
Utilities114 ✓144+30%

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

Salary equivalency: Miami → Boston

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

Salary in MiamiEquivalent in BostonDifference
$60,000$85,000+$25,000
$80,000$113,000+$33,000
$100,000$142,000+$42,000
$130,000$184,000+$54,000
$150,000$213,000+$63,000
$200,000$284,000+$84,000

Miami vs Boston: Full Cost of Living Comparison (2026)

When comparing the cost of living between Miami, FL and Boston, MA, Miami comes out significantly more affordable with a COL index of 123 versus 162 for Boston — a difference of approximately 32%.

State income tax impact

Florida has no state income tax, giving Miami workers an immediate 5% take-home pay advantage over Boston workers who pay Massachusetts's 5% state income tax.

Housing costs

The median home price in Miami is $600,000, compared to $720,000 in Boston. Average 1-bedroom rent is $2,300/month in Miami versus $2,900/month in Boston.

Miami vs Houston →Miami vs San Antonio →Miami vs Dallas →Miami vs Austin →Miami vs Fort Worth →Miami vs El Paso →