Cost of living comparison
Boston is 9.6% more expensive than Los Angeles.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.4% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 22.0% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 1.8% less in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 13.7% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 11.8% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 13.8% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 4.5% more in Boston
The cost of groceries, entertainment and sports, housing, childcare, clothing, and restaurants in Boston are more expensive than in Los Angeles.
If you lived in Boston instead of Los Angeles, you would:
pay 3.4% more for restaurants
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$25.00
|
$22.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$12.00
|
$12.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.95
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.23
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 22.0% more for groceries
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.99
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.87
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.56
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$4.77
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$7.25
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.72
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$1.05
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.66
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.26
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.35
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.15
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 1.8% less for transportation
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.96
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.13
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$30,499.50
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.52
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 13.7% more for housing
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$72.71
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,395.36
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,100.61
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$144.10
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 11.8% more for childcare
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,778.57
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,750.00
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 13.8% more for entertainment and sports
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.46
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$12.00
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$59.41
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$18.00
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 4.5% more for clothing
|
Los Angeles
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$58.46
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$42.72
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$101.30
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$144.74
|
$157.18
|
|
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