Cost of living comparison
Boston is 21.6% more expensive than Virginia.
- Restaurants
-
pay 18.2% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 27.6% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 4.4% more in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 36.8% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 18.6% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 30.9% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 14.4% more in Boston
The cost of housing, entertainment and sports, groceries, childcare, restaurants, and clothing in Boston are more expensive than in Virginia.
If you lived in Boston instead of Virginia, you would:
pay 18.2% more for restaurants
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.49
|
$22.00
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.13
|
$12.55
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.48
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.04
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 27.6% more for groceries
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.44
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.98
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.79
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.41
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.54
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.62
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.74
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.23
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.41
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.41
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 4.4% more for transportation
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.36
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$79.15
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$32,788.87
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$16.99
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 36.8% more for housing
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$69.48
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,832.03
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.84
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$145.31
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 18.6% more for childcare
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,614.20
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$28,849.72
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 30.9% more for entertainment and sports
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.17
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.19
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.03
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$58.19
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$14.24
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 14.4% more for clothing
|
Virginia
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.05
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$41.36
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$92.16
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$126.91
|
$157.18
|
|
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