Boston, MA vs New York, NY

Boston, MA and New York, NY have a very similar cost of living, with only a 3.5% difference in their overall index. Boston scores 160 while New York scores 155 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Boston is $2,093/month compared to $1,779/month in New York — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while New York has cheaper rent, Boston actually has lower median home values ($710,400 vs $751,700).

Median household income in Boston is $94,755 compared to $79,713 in New York (+18.9%). While Boston is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Boston spend roughly 26.5% of their income on rent, less than the 26.8% in New York.

Climate-wise, New York is notably warmer with an average of 55.8°F compared to 51.9°F in Boston. New York receives more rainfall at 49.5" per year compared to 43.6" in Boston.