Example household · Syracuse, NY · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Boston skyline

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Syracuse vs Boston

Syracuse and Boston

Photo: King of Hearts / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Boston are under the US rate in this release, 2.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Syracuse to Boston

In 2022-2023, 185 households filed a move from Syracuse to Boston (about 229 people, average adjusted gross income $60,757). 104 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,236 in Syracuse and $2,549 in Boston. Syracuse has a state tax on wages. Boston has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Boston is 116% of the national level for the same work, against 94% in Syracuse.

Boston averages 200 sunny days, with July highs around 82°F and January nights around 23°F. Syracuse is 159 sunny days, 82°F in July, 26°F in January. Commutes average 31 minutes in Boston and 22 in Syracuse.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 185 households moved Syracuse → Boston (about 229 people, average AGI $60,757). 104 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Syracuse and Boston changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 317 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,050–$3,850
Container or pod
$1,400–$2,650
Rent a truck
$600–$1,100

Movers in Boston and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Boston cheaper than Syracuse after tax and rent?

No. Boston leaves about $1,456 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,236 in Syracuse and $2,549 in Boston.

Does Boston have state income tax?

Boston is in Massachusetts, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Syracuse to Boston?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.