Cost of living comparison
Boston is 32.4% more expensive than Pennsylvania.
- Restaurants
-
pay 32.9% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 29.4% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 4.5% more in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 68.1% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 17.0% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 49.5% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 25.5% more in Boston
The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, restaurants, groceries, clothing, and childcare in Boston are more expensive than in Pennsylvania.
If you lived in Boston instead of Pennsylvania, you would:
pay 32.9% more for restaurants
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$19.53
|
$22.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$9.30
|
$12.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.27
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.76
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 29.4% more for groceries
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.25
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.37
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.35
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.27
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.36
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.43
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.72
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.35
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.45
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 4.5% more for transportation
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.58
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$66.58
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,817.25
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$20.67
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 68.1% more for housing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.16
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,357.77
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,179.21
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$136.88
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 17.0% more for childcare
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,481.93
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$35,614.17
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 49.5% more for entertainment and sports
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.58
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.03
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.13
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$34.60
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.87
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 25.5% more for clothing
|
Pennsylvania
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.27
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$39.31
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$83.69
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$103.12
|
$157.18
|
|
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