San Francisco, CA 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 6.4% less expensive than San Francisco, CA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in San Francisco works out to about $70,200 in Boston, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 23.8% less in Boston. Goods are 8.1% lower and other services 2.5% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $2,987 a month in Boston and $3,445 in San Francisco, $5,496 a year less in Boston (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $726,000 in Boston and $1,120,000 in San Francisco.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Boston was 8.2% less expensive than San Francisco.
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: 23.8% lower in Boston than in San Francisco
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
All items San Francisco, CA: 115.6 Boston, MA: 108.3
Goods San Francisco, CA: 108.5 Boston, MA: 99.7
Housing (rents) San Francisco, CA: 194.7 Boston, MA: 148.4
Utilities San Francisco, CA: 172.6 Boston, MA: 148.8
Other services San Francisco, CA: 106.2 Boston, MA: 103.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 108.3 |
| Goods | 108.5 | 99.7 |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 148.4 |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 106.2 | 103.6 |
| Category | San Francisco | Boston | Boston vs San Francisco |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 115.6 | 108.3 | −6.4% |
| Goods | 108.5 | 99.7 | −8.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 194.7 | 148.4 | −23.8% |
| Utilities | 172.6 | 148.8 | −13.8% |
| Other services | 106.2 | 103.6 | −2.5% |
| Typical asking rent | $3,445 | $2,987 | −13.3% |
| Typical home value | $1,120,000 | $726,000 | −35.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in San Francisco | $75,000 | $70,200 | −6.4% |
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 San Francisco and Boston has narrowed since 2008: 11.4 points then, 7.3 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 119.1 | 107.7 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 106.6 |
| 2010 | 113.9 | 106.3 |
| 2011 | 112.4 | 106.6 |
| 2012 | 112.5 | 106.0 |
| 2013 | 112.9 | 104.3 |
| 2014 | 114.0 | 105.8 |
| 2015 | 115.8 | 106.3 |
| 2016 | 116.4 | 110.1 |
| 2017 | 121.6 | 109.1 |
| 2018 | 122.3 | 110.3 |
| 2019 | 119.7 | 109.9 |
| 2020 | 119.6 | 112.5 |
| 2021 | 120.0 | 109.8 |
| 2022 | 118.0 | 112.2 |
| 2023 | 117.6 | 110.4 |
| 2024 | 115.6 | 108.3 |
Goods
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.8 | 97.9 |
| 2009 | 110.0 | 96.9 |
| 2010 | 107.0 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 105.5 | 101.9 |
| 2012 | 108.0 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 109.9 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 108.8 | 105.0 |
| 2015 | 111.4 | 102.6 |
| 2016 | 111.2 | 104.6 |
| 2017 | 114.0 | 104.4 |
| 2018 | 116.2 | 102.8 |
| 2019 | 113.8 | 106.1 |
| 2020 | 113.0 | 108.3 |
| 2021 | 113.8 | 109.9 |
| 2022 | 114.4 | 110.0 |
| 2023 | 115.2 | 100.8 |
| 2024 | 108.5 | 99.7 |
Housing (rents)
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 191.0 | 142.7 |
| 2009 | 192.1 | 146.2 |
| 2010 | 189.2 | 144.2 |
| 2011 | 191.9 | 147.3 |
| 2012 | 189.0 | 144.9 |
| 2013 | 190.7 | 145.7 |
| 2014 | 198.1 | 142.7 |
| 2015 | 204.5 | 144.7 |
| 2016 | 210.4 | 146.6 |
| 2017 | 215.2 | 148.4 |
| 2018 | 219.7 | 146.1 |
| 2019 | 213.0 | 146.4 |
| 2020 | 227.1 | 156.7 |
| 2021 | 213.5 | 147.0 |
| 2022 | 206.3 | 150.2 |
| 2023 | 200.1 | 148.2 |
| 2024 | 194.7 | 148.4 |
Utilities
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 115.6 | 151.4 |
| 2009 | 115.7 | 143.5 |
| 2010 | 118.5 | 113.2 |
| 2011 | 113.2 | 120.8 |
| 2012 | 110.3 | 130.3 |
| 2013 | 130.1 | 114.4 |
| 2014 | 135.1 | 107.3 |
| 2015 | 142.5 | 114.9 |
| 2016 | 145.5 | 133.8 |
| 2017 | 152.4 | 151.4 |
| 2018 | 158.4 | 155.7 |
| 2019 | 162.8 | 155.1 |
| 2020 | 161.3 | 164.3 |
| 2021 | 167.0 | 158.9 |
| 2022 | 170.4 | 154.5 |
| 2023 | 162.2 | 172.2 |
| 2024 | 172.6 | 148.8 |
Other services
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 107.0 | 105.7 |
| 2009 | 104.0 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 104.1 | 102.4 |
| 2011 | 102.7 | 101.2 |
| 2012 | 102.2 | 100.2 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 97.9 |
| 2014 | 103.2 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 104.3 | 100.8 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 105.5 |
| 2017 | 111.0 | 103.2 |
| 2018 | 110.8 | 106.3 |
| 2019 | 108.6 | 103.8 |
| 2020 | 105.2 | 104.2 |
| 2021 | 108.2 | 101.1 |
| 2022 | 105.9 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 105.4 | 106.3 |
| 2024 | 106.2 | 103.6 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,987 in Boston vs $3,445 in San Francisco
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- 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
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $2,247 | $1,956 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $2,348 | $2,003 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $2,413 | $1,986 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $2,413 | $1,976 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $2,448 | $2,037 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $2,505 | $2,077 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $2,507 | $2,070 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $2,467 | $2,040 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $2,518 | $2,126 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $2,570 | $2,155 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $2,597 | $2,131 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $2,583 | $2,121 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $2,614 | $2,192 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $2,663 | $2,228 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $2,687 | $2,204 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $2,675 | $2,194 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $2,703 | $2,260 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $2,742 | $2,300 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $2,761 | $2,288 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $2,744 | $2,269 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $2,768 | $2,341 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $2,732 | $2,318 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $2,618 | $2,204 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $2,520 | $2,133 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $2,549 | $2,217 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $2,647 | $2,319 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $2,739 | $2,388 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $2,732 | $2,422 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $2,797 | $2,468 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $2,863 | $2,579 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $2,887 | $2,636 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $2,830 | $2,622 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $2,859 | $2,675 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $2,874 | $2,759 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $2,878 | $2,769 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $2,831 | $2,764 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $2,869 | $2,821 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $2,913 | $2,877 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $2,926 | $2,852 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $2,915 | $2,853 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $2,975 | $2,921 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $3,041 | $2,955 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $3,082 | $2,921 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $3,084 | $2,915 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $3,161 | $2,978 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $3,291 | $3,030 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $3,445 | $2,987 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $726,000 in Boston vs $1,120,000 in San Francisco
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- San Francisco, CA
- 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
| San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $669K | $383K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $693K | $387K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $715K | $394K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $739K | $402K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $765K | $410K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $770K | $416K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $765K | $420K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $774K | $428K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $794K | $436K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $809K | $445K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $821K | $452K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $848K | $458K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $881K | $466K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $905K | $475K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $912K | $481K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $914K | $482K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $905K | $483K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $901K | $487K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $906K | $488K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $912K | $492K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $926K | $500K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $926K | $506K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $934K | $515K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $972K | $537K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $1.01M | $558K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $1.06M | $581K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $1.09M | $586K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $1.11M | $589K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $1.18M | $615K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $1.22M | $643K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $1.16M | $638K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $1.11M | $630K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $1.07M | $628K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $1.08M | $644K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $1.1M | $663K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $1.1M | $674K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $1.1M | $683K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $1.13M | $697K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $1.13M | $703K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $1.13M | $708K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $1.12M | $711K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $1.1M | $710K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $1.09M | $711K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $1.1M | $719K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $1.1M | $723K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $1.11M | $722K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $1.12M | $726K | $366K |
More about each city
- Cost of living in San Francisco, CA
- Cost of living in Boston, MA
- Reverse: moving from Boston to San Francisco
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.