Cities Similar to Boston, MA
The top 10 most similar cities based on cost of living, home prices, rent, population, and region.
Cities similar to Boston, MA
1. Washington, DC
689,545 people · Northeast
COL Index
152.0
Home value
$556K
Rent estimate
$2,215/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →2. Jersey City, NJ
292,449 people · Northeast
COL Index
125.0
Home value
$637K
Rent estimate
$2,335/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →3. Newark, NJ
311,549 people · Northeast
COL Index
108.0
Home value
$484K
Rent estimate
$1,600/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →4. New York, NY
8,336,817 people · Northeast
COL Index
168.0
Home value
$1.1M
Rent estimate
$3,270/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →5. Baltimore, MD
585,708 people · Northeast
COL Index
106.0
Home value
$218K
Rent estimate
$1,450/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →6. Philadelphia, PA
1,584,064 people · Northeast
COL Index
101.2
Home value
$241K
Rent estimate
$1,390/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →7. San Diego, CA
1,386,932 people · West
COL Index
144.0
Home value
$980K
Rent estimate
$2,755/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →8. Long Beach, CA
466,742 people · West
COL Index
135.0
Home value
$976K
Rent estimate
$2,320/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →9. Seattle, WA
749,256 people · Pacific Northwest
COL Index
172.0
Home value
$808K
Rent estimate
$2,260/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →10. Chula Vista, CA
275,487 people · West
COL Index
144.0
Home value
$840K
Rent estimate
$3,360/mo
Compared: cost index, home value, rent estimate, population, region.
Compare →How We Find Cities Similar to Boston
We compare saved cost indexes (30% of the score), home values (20%), rent estimates (15%), population (15%) and region (20%). Financial differences are measured relative to the two cities, and population uses a logarithmic scale. Rent estimates prefer city ZIP data when available.
A match needs at least two financial factors available for both cities. Missing factors reduce the score instead of counting as matches. Each card lists the factors actually compared. Scores are a ranking aid, not a percentage probability, a measure of data accuracy, or a promise of a similar lifestyle. Climate, schools, jobs and your personal budget are not part of this score.
Click on any city in the results to see a detailed cost of living comparison, including category-by-category breakdowns for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and more. You can also adjust the search to find cities similar to any location in the United States.