Cost of Living: Boston, MA vs Phoenix, AZ
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,224/mo in Boston, MA versus $4,370/mo in Phoenix, AZ. In the model, rent is about 30.5% of gross in Boston, MA versus 21.24% in Phoenix, AZ, so Phoenix, AZ tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Boston, MA and Phoenix, AZ.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Phoenix, AZ
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Phoenix, AZ
- Lower home prices: Phoenix, AZ
- Higher median household income: Boston, MA
Cost of Living Index
Boston, MA: 156.3 (U.S. = 100) · Phoenix, AZ: 102.4 (U.S. = 100)
Phoenix, AZ has a lower cost-of-living index than Boston, MA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Boston, MA: $1,989/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Phoenix, AZ: $1,385/mo
Median rent in Boston, MA is $604/mo higher than in Phoenix, AZ.
Median Home Price
Boston, MA: $710,400 · Phoenix, AZ: $381,900
Median home price in Boston, MA is $328,500 higher than in Phoenix, AZ.
Median Household Income
Boston, MA: $94,755 · Phoenix, AZ: $77,041
Boston, MA has a higher median household income than Phoenix, AZ by $17,714.
Boston, MA overview · Phoenix, AZ overview · Popular comparisons