Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Boston, MA is 10.8% lower than in San Francisco, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Boston, MA is 7.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Boston, MA are 1.8% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Boston, MA are 16.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Boston, MA are 9.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Boston, MA is 9.0% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
Restaurants | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | 30.00 $ | 25.00 $ | -16.7 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | 150.00 $ | 120.00 $ | -20.0 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | 15.00 $ | 12.00 $ | -20.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | 8.00 $ | 8.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 9.00 $ | 9.00 $ | 0.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | 5.72 $ | 5.23 $ | -8.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.21 $ | 2.91 $ | -9.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | 2.67 $ | 2.29 $ | -14.2 % |
Markets | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | 1.54 $ | 1.30 $ | -15.4 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | 4.69 $ | 3.76 $ | -19.7 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | 2.77 $ | 2.89 $ | +4.2 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | 6.18 $ | 4.86 $ | -21.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | 10.39 $ | 7.36 $ | -29.1 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | 5.93 $ | 6.11 $ | +3.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | 10.54 $ | 9.14 $ | -13.3 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | 3.25 $ | 2.65 $ | -18.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | 1.30 $ | 0.98 $ | -24.4 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | 2.50 $ | 2.78 $ | +11.2 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | 3.46 $ | 3.49 $ | +0.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | 1.62 $ | 1.98 $ | +22.5 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | 1.93 $ | 1.78 $ | -7.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | 2.94 $ | 2.76 $ | -6.2 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | 2.85 $ | 2.39 $ | -16.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 18.00 $ | 17.20 $ | -4.5 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | 2.95 $ | 3.17 $ | +7.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | 3.68 $ | 5.02 $ | +36.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | 13.00 $ | 12.54 $ | -3.5 % |
Transportation | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | 3.00 $ | 2.40 $ | -20.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | 92.50 $ | 90.00 $ | -2.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | 4.15 $ | 2.60 $ | -37.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | 3.27 $ | 2.82 $ | -13.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | 39.00 $ | 28.00 $ | -28.2 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | 1.26 $ | 0.90 $ | -28.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | 36,998.00 $ | 35,783.94 $ | -3.3 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | 26,059.42 $ | 25,585.50 $ | -1.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | 231.78 $ | 198.17 $ | -14.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | 66.61 $ | 56.45 $ | -15.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | 69.84 $ | 77.26 $ | +10.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | 113.95 $ | 88.96 $ | -21.9 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | 21.88 $ | 35.73 $ | +63.3 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | 17.00 $ | 15.00 $ | -11.8 % |
Childcare | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | 2,972.59 $ | 2,928.23 $ | -1.5 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | 42,000.00 $ | 32,833.33 $ | -21.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | 70.62 $ | 66.50 $ | -5.8 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | 46.75 $ | 42.60 $ | -8.9 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 99.74 $ | 109.62 $ | +9.9 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | 125.76 $ | 148.79 $ | +18.3 % |
Rent Per Month | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 3,334.02 $ | 3,406.79 $ | +2.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 2,676.48 $ | 2,573.48 $ | -3.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | 5,550.00 $ | 5,920.36 $ | +6.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | 4,560.00 $ | 3,932.57 $ | -13.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 1,012.78 $ | 1,137.57 $ | +12.3 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 853.08 $ | 570.73 $ | -33.1 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | 7,208.69 $ | 6,085.25 $ | -15.6 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.31 | 6.34 | +0.6 % |
| Last update: | 7 December 2025 | 7 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 193 | 165 |
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Moving to Boston, MA? Explore:
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 miles |
Cities near Boston, MA: | Cost of Living in Malden, Massachusetts | 5.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Lynn, Massachusetts | 10.53 miles |
| Cost of Living in Natick, Massachusetts | 18.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tewksbury, Massachusetts | 23.94 miles |
| Cost of Living in Brockton, Massachusetts | 24.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Acton, Massachusetts | 24.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Ashland, Massachusetts | 25.64 miles |
| Cost of Living in Beverly, Massachusetts | 28.08 miles |
| Cost of Living in Taunton, Massachusetts | 38.93 miles |
| Cost of Living in Attleboro, Massachusetts | 39.03 miles |