Cost of living comparison
Boston is 0.3% more expensive than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 5.3% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 14.2% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 5.3% less in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 14.1% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 13.9% less in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.0% less in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 11.4% less in Boston
The cost of groceries, housing, and restaurants in Boston are more expensive than in Washington. Expenses including childcare, clothing, transportation, and entertainment and sports are lower in Boston.
If you lived in Boston instead of Washington, you would:
pay 5.3% more for restaurants
|
Washington
|
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) |
$2.78
|
$3.14
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.22
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 14.2% more for groceries
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$4.34
|
$4.39
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.84
|
$9.48
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.14
|
$4.97
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.91
|
$4.43
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$6.73
|
$6.22
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.70
|
$2.50
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.85
|
$1.02
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.46
|
$3.23
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.59
|
$3.19
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.55
|
$2.08
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.61
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 5.3% less for transportation
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.66
|
$3.64
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$75.00
|
$90.00
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,699.74
|
$32,000.00
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$23.88
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 14.1% more for housing
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.46
|
$70.88
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,582.95
|
$3,280.96
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$2,028.70
|
$2,453.85
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$146.65
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 13.9% less for childcare
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,273.25
|
$2,428.57
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$38,250.00
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 1.0% less for entertainment and sports
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$8.00
|
$8.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.55
|
$5.79
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$11.75
|
$13.83
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$106.36
|
$86.18
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$17.18
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 11.4% less for clothing
|
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$74.13
|
$64.32
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$50.77
|
$43.83
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$105.47
|
$98.17
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$178.48
|
$157.18
|
|
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