Northglenn, CO vs Boston, MA: Cost of Living

Which city costs less?

Boston, MA has a modeled overall cost index 44.7% higher than Northglenn, CO.

Northglenn, CO · modeled 2BR rent
$2,210 / month
Boston, MA · modeled 2BR rent
$3,865 / month

These are saved estimates, not current rental listings. Some cities use adjusted regional data. Your household budget can differ from the overall index. Sources and assumptions

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Cost of Living Comparison 2026

Compare Northglenn, CO and Boston, MA using saved regional data and explicit budgeting assumptions. Rent estimates are not live listings. Change the salary below, then check the source notes before applying a result to your household.

Saved regional estimates · Sources and assumptions

$
Numbers update automatically as you type

Estimated extra cost: $3,420/month in Boston, MA

$150,000 in your current city has a modeled equivalent of $191,035 in Boston, MA

Regional cost estimates: Northglenn, CO uses Denver, CO. Boston, MA uses Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Area. Available city ZIP rent estimates are shown separately.
Overall Cost
↑ 44.7%
More expensive
Monthly Impact
$3,420
Extra cost
Annual Impact
$41.0K
Per year

Assumes 60% of current gross income goes to living costs. The headline uses the category budget below; taxes, moving costs and savings goals are excluded.

Northglenn, CO

Population:38K
Cost Index:
103.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$506K

Boston, MA

Population:685K
Cost Index:
149.0
100 = national average
Typical Home:$961K

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Northglenn, CO

The Centennial State

38K
Population
State Tax
Yes

Located in Colorado, this city has a population of 38K residents.

Boston, MA

The Bay State

685K
Population
State Tax
Yes
Climate
Continental

Notable Facts

  • •Major education center
  • •Biotech capital
  • •Historic American city

Major Industries

EducationHealthcareTechnologyFinance

Cost Breakdown by Category

Estimated monthly spending: Northglenn, CO vs Boston, MA

Assumes 60% of your current gross income is spent on these categories. The headline and totals use this same budget. Rent estimates below are separate reference data. Rounded amounts may differ by $1.

Housing
↑ 92.7%
Northglenn, CO
$2,606
Boston, MA
$5,023
Difference
$2,416
more
Transportation
↑ 33.7%
Northglenn, CO
$1,303
Boston, MA
$1,743
Difference
$440
more
All Utilities
↑ 42.5%
Northglenn, CO
$478
Boston, MA
$682
Difference
$203
more
Other
↑ 9.8%
Northglenn, CO
$1,582
Boston, MA
$1,737
Difference
$155
more
Healthcare
↑ 21.6%
Northglenn, CO
$582
Boston, MA
$708
Difference
$126
more
Groceries
↑ 8.4%
Northglenn, CO
$948
Boston, MA
$1,027
Difference
$79.27
more

🏠Rent Comparison

Studio
From$1,740
To$3,095
↑ $1,355
1 Bed
From$1,860
To$3,255
↑ $1,395
2 Bed
From$2,210
To$3,865
↑ $1,655
3 Bed
From$2,890
To$4,630
↑ $1,740
Northglenn, COZIP-level data

1BR range: $1,720–$1,960/mo

Boston, MAZIP-level data

1BR range: $2,560–$3,710/mo

💡 Note: HUD Fair Market Rents estimate 40th-percentile gross rents, including most tenant-paid utilities. City ZIP summaries are medians of those estimates, not market median rents. Actual prices vary by neighborhood, amenities, and condition. Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents FY2026.

$7,500
Monthly in Northglenn, CO
$10,920
Monthly in Boston, MA
$3,420
Difference

Home Values

Northglenn
Boston
$506K
Median Value
$961K
↓ -3.3%
YoY Change
↓ -0.7%
↑ +20.7%
5-Year Change
↑ +7%
$459K - $518K
Price Range
$709K - $3.40M

Homes in Boston are 90% more expensive than Northglenn

Source: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), January 2026

Tax Comparison

Annual tax burden comparison at $150.0K salary

Tax Savings
↓ $900
More taxes
Monthly Difference
$75.00
Less take-home
Effective Rate Diff
0.6%
Rate difference

Northglenn, CO

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Colorado State Tax
Effective: 4.4%
$6.6K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.1%
$43.6K
Take-Home Pay
$8,866/month
$106.4K

Boston, MA

Federal Income Tax
Effective: 18.9%
$25.5K
Massachusetts State Tax
Effective: 5.0%
$7.5K
FICA Taxes
Social Security + Medicare
$11.5K
Total Taxes
Effective: 29.7%
$44.5K
Take-Home Pay
$8,791/month
$105.5K

Additional Tax Information

Northglenn, CO Tax Rates

Sales Tax:7.8%
Property Tax:0.5%

Boston, MA Tax Rates

Sales Tax:6.3%
Property Tax:1.2%

💡 Note: Tax calculations are estimates based on 2024/2025 tax brackets for single filers with standard deduction. Actual taxes may vary based on filing status, deductions, credits, and local variations.

🚶 Walkability

Modeled road attributes, not a safety assessment. Methodology and limitations

Environment

Northglenn
Boston
55 Moderate
Air Quality
36 Good
35.2%
Good Air Days
79.5%
95 High
Climate Risk
94 Moderate
🌊🌪💨
Top Hazards
🌊🌅🌀
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days
▲+3.3°F
2050 Outlook
▲+2.5°F
28 days
Heat Days >95°F
6 days

Before moving from Northglenn, CO to Boston, MA

Use this comparison to shortlist a move, then check the costs that depend on your household.

  1. Compare actual homes. Get current quotes in Boston, MA for the same bedroom count and included utilities as your home in Northglenn, CO. Add parking, deposits, insurance and any overlapping leases. The rent estimates above are a starting point, not available listings.
  2. Confirm your income. Check your expected pay with your employer, including any location adjustment. Use “Different salary at destination?” above to compare two incomes. The budget model excludes taxes and one-time moving costs; it is not a take-home-pay calculation.
  3. Price your daily routine. Check the commute from a specific address to work, school or childcare. Add household expenses missing from this model, such as childcare, debt payments and medical needs. Verify local services before signing a lease.
  4. Plan the transition. Get moving quotes and budget for travel, setup costs and time off. Open your Northglenn to Boston moving checklist to organize the tasks and timing.

Still choosing a destination? Explore cities similar to Boston, MA by cost, housing, population and region.

Frequently Asked Questions: Northglenn, CO vs Boston, MA

How do the cost estimates for Northglenn, CO and Boston, MA compare?

Boston, MA has a modeled overall cost index 44.7% higher than Northglenn, CO. This is a broad model comparison, not a survey of today's prices or a forecast of your household spending. Some cities use adjusted regional fallback data.

What does the equivalent salary mean?

At a $150,000 salary in Northglenn, CO, the model estimates $191,035 in Boston, MA. It allocates 60% of gross income to the origin city’s category budget and applies each destination category’s relative cost. The equivalent salary adds the total category difference to your income. The monthly difference is the same category difference divided by 12; it is not take-home pay or guaranteed savings. Household size, childcare and your actual lease are not inputs to this calculation.

What rent estimates are available for Northglenn, CO and Boston, MA?

The modeled two-bedroom rents are $2,210/month in Northglenn, CO and $3,865/month in Boston, MA. Where available, the source is a city median of HUD FY2026 ZIP-level estimates; otherwise a saved metro table is used. City adjustments may also apply. These are not asking rents or available listings. Compare actual properties with the same bedroom count and included utilities.

How should I use this comparison before moving?

Use it to shortlist locations, then replace modeled costs with a current housing quote, employer-confirmed income, commute costs, insurance and your household's other expenses. Add one-time moving costs separately. Source years differ and the saved datasets are not a live price feed. Read the methodology for the formulas and fallback rules.

💰 See how taxes change too — compare take-home pay between Colorado and Massachusetts on TaxTakeHome.com

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