Boston, MA

Cost of Living in Boston, MA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

$4,676/mo in Boston. $1,967 left each month. Prices 16% above the US average.

Compare vs Chicago Rank metros from BostonHow we figure this

Monthly costs

Take-home $6,643/mo.

Taxes$2,425
Rent$2,549
Other living costs$2,127
Left over$1,967

Pay and tax, per year

Gross household pay: $108,819
Federal income tax: −$15,554
Social Security and Medicare: −$8,325
State income tax (MA): −$5,221
Take-home pay: $79,719
Effective tax rate: 26.7%

Living costs, per month

Rent, 1br: $2,549
Groceries: $464
Getting around: $445
Healthcare: $522
Utilities and internet: $290
Everything else: $406
Total spending: $4,676

Left over each month

$9,068 gross, minus $2,425 in tax and $4,676 in living costs.

$1,967

Average electric bill in Massachusetts

About $274 a month for a household using 900 kWh. That is the EIA residential price for Massachusetts in 2025, 30.41¢ per kWh. It is a state average, not a Boston utility bill, and the utilities line in the monthly costs above already includes a modelled power cost.

Cost of Living in Boston, MA (2026): Rent, Utilities & Take-Home

Monthly costs

Pay and tax, per year

Living costs, per month

Average electric bill in Massachusetts

Moving from Boston

Take-home by job in Boston

Other Massachusetts metros

Compare Boston