Cost of living comparison
Boston is 24.5% more expensive than Washington.
- Restaurants
-
pay 14.6% more in Boston
- Groceries
-
pay 38.4% more in Boston
- Transportation
-
pay 3.7% more in Boston
- Housing
-
pay 43.4% more in Boston
- Childcare
-
pay 22.9% more in Boston
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 26.2% more in Boston
- Clothing
-
pay 22.4% more in Boston
The cost of housing, groceries, entertainment and sports, childcare, clothing, and restaurants in Boston are more expensive than in Washington.
If you lived in Boston instead of Washington, you would:
pay 14.6% more for restaurants
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$20.67
|
$22.00
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.36
|
$12.55
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.69
|
$3.14
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.05
|
$2.56
|
|
pay 38.4% more for groceries
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.73
|
$4.39
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.70
|
$9.48
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$4.02
|
$4.97
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.61
|
$4.43
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.38
|
$6.22
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.19
|
$2.50
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.79
|
$1.02
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$3.23
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$1.94
|
$3.19
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.21
|
$2.08
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.14
|
$1.72
|
|
pay 3.7% more for transportation
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$4.34
|
$3.64
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$62.97
|
$90.00
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,230.18
|
$32,000.00
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.60
|
$16.62
|
|
pay 43.4% more for housing
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$66.07
|
$70.88
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,678.49
|
$3,280.96
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,500.86
|
$2,453.85
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$139.02
|
$148.96
|
|
pay 22.9% more for childcare
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,651.91
|
$2,428.57
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$25,288.69
|
$25,000.00
|
|
pay 26.2% more for entertainment and sports
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.59
|
$8.00
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.24
|
$5.79
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$10.62
|
$13.83
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$56.78
|
$86.18
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.67
|
$16.00
|
|
pay 22.4% more for clothing
Washington
|
Boston
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$52.46
|
$64.32
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.64
|
$43.83
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.80
|
$98.17
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$108.76
|
$157.18
|
|
Change currency:
Help us improve these prices
ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Boston or Washington. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.