Cost of Living: Boston vs New York (2026)

Q: "Is Boston or New York more expensive?"

"New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 108 — a 4% difference. Your money goes further in Boston."

Q: "How much is $100,000 in Boston worth in New York?"

"About $103,969 — that's what you'd need in New York to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston."

New York is about 4% more expensive than Boston overall — $100,000 in Boston is worth about $103,969 in New York.

Boston vs New York: the numbers

Metric	Boston	New York	Difference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	108	113	+4%
Median rent	$2,093	$1,779	-15%
Median home value	$710,400	$751,700	+6%
Median household income	$94,755	$79,713	-16%

Cost of living = BEA Regional Price Parities (US average = 100). Rent, home value, and income from the U.S. Census ACS. See our methodology.

What your salary is worth

A $100,000 salary in Boston has the same buying power as about $103,969 in New York. Going the other way, $100,000 in New York is like $96,183 in Boston.

Use the calculator below to compare any salary between Boston and New York.

Compare any salary: Boston vs New York

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston or New York more expensive?

New York is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 113 vs 108 — a 4% difference. Your money goes further in Boston.

How much is $100,000 in Boston worth in New York?

About $103,969 — that's what you'd need in New York to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston.