Phoenix, AZ vs Boston, MA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Boston, MA is 4.8% more expensive than Phoenix, AZ (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Phoenix works out to about $78,600 in Boston, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 22.4% more in Boston. Goods are 4.9% higher and other services 0.4% lower.
- Utility prices (electricity, gas, water) are 59.4% higher in Boston.
- Typical asking rent is $2,987 a month in Boston and $1,720 in Phoenix, $15,204 a year more in Boston (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $726,000 in Boston and $441,000 in Phoenix.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Boston was 9.9% more expensive than Phoenix.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 22.4% higher in Boston than in Phoenix
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
All items Phoenix, AZ: 103.3 Boston, MA: 108.3
Goods Phoenix, AZ: 95.0 Boston, MA: 99.7
Housing (rents) Phoenix, AZ: 121.2 Boston, MA: 148.4
Utilities Phoenix, AZ: 93.3 Boston, MA: 148.8
Other services Phoenix, AZ: 104.0 Boston, MA: 103.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 108.3 |
| Goods | 95.0 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 | 148.4 |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 104.0 | 103.6 |
| Category | Phoenix | Boston | Boston vs Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 103.3 | 108.3 | +4.8% |
| Goods | 95.0 | 99.7 | +4.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 121.2 | 148.4 | +22.4% |
| Utilities | 93.3 | 148.8 | +59.4% |
| Other services | 104.0 | 103.6 | −0.4% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,720 | $2,987 | +73.7% |
| Typical home value | $441,000 | $726,000 | +64.5% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Phoenix | $75,000 | $78,600 | +4.8% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Phoenix and Boston has widened since 2008: 2.0 points then, 5.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.7 | 107.7 |
| 2009 | 105.4 | 106.6 |
| 2010 | 102.7 | 106.3 |
| 2011 | 100.3 | 106.6 |
| 2012 | 98.7 | 106.0 |
| 2013 | 99.5 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 99.1 | 105.8 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 106.3 |
| 2016 | 100.4 | 110.1 |
| 2017 | 98.9 | 109.1 |
| 2018 | 99.6 | 110.3 |
| 2019 | 100.0 | 109.9 |
| 2020 | 102.8 | 112.5 |
| 2021 | 99.1 | 109.8 |
| 2022 | 103.9 | 112.2 |
| 2023 | 104.7 | 110.4 |
| 2024 | 103.3 | 108.3 |
Goods
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 105.6 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 109.1 | 96.9 |
| 2010 | 101.2 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 99.0 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 98.0 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 98.2 | 105.0 |
| 2015 | 98.7 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 97.8 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 96.0 | 104.4 |
| 2018 | 95.9 | 102.8 |
| 2019 | 94.9 | 106.1 |
| 2020 | 101.5 | 108.3 |
| 2021 | 94.5 | 109.9 |
| 2022 | 98.2 | 110.0 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 100.8 |
| 2024 | 95.0 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 113.7 | 142.7 |
| 2009 | 107.7 | 146.2 |
| 2010 | 103.0 | 144.2 |
| 2011 | 103.0 | 147.3 |
| 2012 | 102.7 | 144.9 |
| 2013 | 100.0 | 145.7 |
| 2014 | 101.4 | 142.7 |
| 2015 | 101.2 | 144.7 |
| 2016 | 100.6 | 146.6 |
| 2017 | 103.3 | 148.4 |
| 2018 | 104.4 | 146.1 |
| 2019 | 106.4 | 146.4 |
| 2020 | 111.2 | 156.7 |
| 2021 | 116.1 | 147.0 |
| 2022 | 122.8 | 150.2 |
| 2023 | 124.3 | 148.2 |
| 2024 | 121.2 | 148.4 |
Utilities
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 151.4 |
| 2009 | 98.2 | 143.5 |
| 2010 | 106.1 | 113.2 |
| 2011 | 105.1 | 120.8 |
| 2012 | 99.0 | 130.3 |
| 2013 | 98.0 | 114.4 |
| 2014 | 98.3 | 107.3 |
| 2015 | 99.6 | 114.9 |
| 2016 | 95.7 | 133.8 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 151.4 |
| 2018 | 104.7 | 155.7 |
| 2019 | 92.8 | 155.1 |
| 2020 | 89.8 | 164.3 |
| 2021 | 89.9 | 158.9 |
| 2022 | 88.2 | 154.5 |
| 2023 | 83.1 | 172.2 |
| 2024 | 93.3 | 148.8 |
Other services
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.3 | 105.7 |
| 2009 | 102.7 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 103.4 | 102.4 |
| 2011 | 100.0 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 100.2 |
| 2013 | 100.7 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 99.2 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 97.9 | 100.8 |
| 2016 | 102.6 | 105.5 |
| 2017 | 99.6 | 103.2 |
| 2018 | 100.6 | 106.3 |
| 2019 | 102.3 | 103.8 |
| 2020 | 101.7 | 104.2 |
| 2021 | 98.3 | 101.1 |
| 2022 | 103.4 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 104.5 | 106.3 |
| 2024 | 104.0 | 103.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,987 in Boston vs $1,720 in Phoenix
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $923 | $1,956 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $945 | $2,003 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $949 | $1,986 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $956 | $1,976 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $973 | $2,037 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $994 | $2,077 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $1,001 | $2,070 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $1,003 | $2,040 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $1,030 | $2,126 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $1,055 | $2,155 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $1,065 | $2,131 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $1,071 | $2,121 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $1,094 | $2,192 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $1,127 | $2,228 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $1,144 | $2,204 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $1,158 | $2,194 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $1,180 | $2,260 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $1,216 | $2,300 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $1,235 | $2,288 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $1,251 | $2,269 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $1,276 | $2,341 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,281 | $2,318 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,327 | $2,204 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,363 | $2,133 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,411 | $2,217 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,519 | $2,319 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,633 | $2,388 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,675 | $2,422 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,706 | $2,468 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,731 | $2,579 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,727 | $2,636 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,701 | $2,622 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,719 | $2,675 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,727 | $2,759 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,725 | $2,769 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,701 | $2,764 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,717 | $2,821 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,730 | $2,877 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,726 | $2,852 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,703 | $2,853 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,721 | $2,921 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,716 | $2,955 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,703 | $2,921 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,691 | $2,915 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,706 | $2,978 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,714 | $3,030 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,720 | $2,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $726,000 in Boston vs $441,000 in Phoenix
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Phoenix, AZ
- Boston, MA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Phoenix, AZ | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $209K | $383K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $214K | $387K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $219K | $394K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $226K | $402K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $232K | $410K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $234K | $416K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $238K | $420K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $241K | $428K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $245K | $436K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $249K | $445K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $254K | $452K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $258K | $458K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $263K | $466K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $268K | $475K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $274K | $481K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $278K | $482K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $283K | $483K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $286K | $487K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $289K | $488K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $295K | $492K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $305K | $500K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $312K | $506K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $321K | $515K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $339K | $537K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $358K | $558K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $388K | $581K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $417K | $586K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $438K | $589K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $463K | $615K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $493K | $643K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $490K | $638K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $465K | $630K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $447K | $628K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $448K | $644K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $456K | $663K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $460K | $674K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $463K | $683K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $466K | $697K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $463K | $703K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $461K | $708K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $456K | $711K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $451K | $710K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $446K | $711K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $446K | $719K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $447K | $723K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $443K | $722K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $441K | $726K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.