Cost of Living Comparison Between Buffalo, NY and Boston, MA 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Boston, MA is 19.2% higher than in Buffalo, NY (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Boston, MA is 51.5% higher than in Buffalo, NY | |
| Rent Prices in Boston, MA are 141.2% higher than in Buffalo, NY | |
| Restaurant Prices in Boston, MA are 15.8% higher than in Buffalo, NY | |
| Groceries Prices in Boston, MA are 20.3% higher than in Buffalo, NY | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Boston, MA is 14.8% higher than in Buffalo, NY | |
Restaurants | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | $25.00 | $30.00 | +20.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | $85.00 | $110.00 | +29.4 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | $12.00 | $12.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | $5.50 | $8.00 | +45.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $7.00 | $9.00 | +28.6 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | $5.78 | $5.04 | -12.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | $2.77 | $2.78 | +0.2 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | $2.13 | $2.28 | +6.8 % |
Markets | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | $0.97 | $1.18 | +22.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | $3.64 | $3.60 | -1.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | $2.47 | $3.00 | +21.4 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | $4.42 | $5.59 | +26.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | $6.00 | $6.83 | +13.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | $4.48 | $6.34 | +41.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | $7.18 | $8.55 | +19.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | $2.20 | $3.15 | +43.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | $0.71 | $0.85 | +20.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | $2.05 | $2.52 | +22.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | $2.33 | $3.25 | +39.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | $1.23 | $2.01 | +63.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | $1.36 | $1.83 | +34.2 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | $2.35 | $2.78 | +18.1 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | $2.40 | $2.87 | +19.3 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | $17.99 | $16.50 | -8.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | $2.06 | $3.03 | +47.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | $4.00 | $5.28 | +32.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | $14.55 | $12.54 | -13.8 % |
Transportation | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | $2.00 | $2.40 | +20.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | $75.00 | $90.00 | +20.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | $5.30 | $2.60 | -50.9 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | $3.60 | $2.82 | -21.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | $45.00 | $28.00 | -37.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | $0.98 | $0.95 | -3.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | $35,458.00 | $36,584.00 | +3.2 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | $25,093.79 | $25,830.13 | +2.9 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | $327.32 | $235.22 | -28.1 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | $52.53 | $57.92 | +10.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | $68.50 | $84.49 | +23.3 % |
Sports And Leisure | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | $36.21 | $83.85 | +131.6 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | $57.00 | $41.88 | -26.5 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | $13.00 | $15.00 | +15.4 % |
Childcare | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | $1,513.26 | $2,885.08 | +90.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | $32,450.00 | $35,892.78 | +10.6 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | $53.17 | $75.65 | +42.3 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | $44.95 | $47.18 | +5.0 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | $115.44 | $114.50 | -0.8 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | $113.21 | $167.81 | +48.2 % |
Rent Per Month | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $1,685.62 | $3,416.21 | +102.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,102.22 | $2,599.74 | +135.9 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | $2,346.25 | $6,258.17 | +166.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | $1,610.00 | $3,993.50 | +148.0 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | $284.75 | $1,227.26 | +331.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | $160.47 | $583.15 | +263.4 % |
Salaries And Financing | Buffalo, NY Edit |
Boston, MA Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | $3,583.60 | $6,231.08 | +73.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.07 | 6.33 | +4.4 % |
| Last update: | 5 June 2026 | 5 June 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 29 | 102 | |
Moving to Buffalo, NY? Explore:
Moving to Boston, MA? Explore:
Cities near Buffalo, NY: | Cost of Living in Rochester, New York | 74.52 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bath, New York | 109.22 miles |
| Cost of Living in Syracuse, New York | 150.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Towanda, Pennsylvania | 182.99 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cleveland, Ohio | 189.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Utica, New York | 198.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in State College, Pennsylvania | 199.07 miles |
| Cost of Living in Binghamton, New York | 204.74 miles |
| Cost of Living in Akron, Ohio | 212.52 miles |
| Cost of Living in Watertown, New York | 213.88 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 Waltham, Massachusetts | 11.19 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 |