Boston, MA vs Seattle, WA

Boston is moderately more affordable than Seattle, with a 8.3% lower cost of living index. Boston scores 160 compared to 175 for Seattle, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Seattle can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Boston is $2,093/month compared to $1,998/month in Seattle — a 5% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Seattle has cheaper rent, Boston actually has lower median home values ($710,400 vs $912,100).

Median household income in Boston is $94,755 compared to $121,984 in Seattle (-22.3%). While Seattle 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, more than the 19.7% in Seattle.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (51.9°F vs 53.2°F). Boston receives more rainfall at 43.6" per year compared to 37.8" in Seattle.