Cost of Living: Boston vs Washington (2026)

Q: "Is Boston or Washington more expensive?"

"Washington is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 109 vs 108 — a 1% difference. Your money goes further in Boston."

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

"About $100,571 — that's what you'd need in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston."

Washington is about 1% more expensive than Boston overall — $100,000 in Boston is worth about $100,571 in Washington.

Boston vs Washington: the numbers

Metric	Boston	Washington	Difference
Cost-of-living index (US=100)	108	109	+1%
Median rent	$2,093	$1,900	-9%
Median home value	$710,400	$724,600	+2%
Median household income	$94,755	$106,287	+12%

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 $100,571 in Washington. Going the other way, $100,000 in Washington is like $99,432 in Boston.

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

Compare any salary: Boston vs Washington

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston or Washington more expensive?

Washington is more expensive. Its cost-of-living index is 109 vs 108 — a 1% difference. Your money goes further in Boston.

How much is $100,000 in Boston worth in Washington?

About $100,571 — that's what you'd need in Washington to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston.