[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":34},["ShallowReactive",2],{"city-content-boston":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":26,"extension":27,"meta":28,"navigation":29,"path":30,"seo":31,"stem":32,"__hash__":33},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fboston.md","Cost of Living in Boston",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":22},"minimark",[9,13,16,19],[10,11,12],"p",{},"Boston has a cost of living index of 155, placing it among the more expensive major cities in the US. The housing index is 255. A one-bedroom apartment in Boston proper rents for $2,500 to $3,200 per month on average, and many neighborhoods close to downtown, Beacon Hill, the South End, and Back Bay regularly exceed that range. The median household income sits at around $89,000, which is solid by national standards but still leaves many residents spending a large portion of income on housing.",[10,14,15],{},"A $100,000 salary in an average-cost city translates to approximately $65,000 worth of purchasing power in Boston. That gap is wide enough to make salary negotiations and relocation decisions meaningful. The metro area extends out to suburbs like Quincy, Waltham, and Lynn, where rents are lower, but commute costs in time and money offset some of those savings.",[10,17,18],{},"Groceries in Boston run about 15 to 20% above the national average. Healthcare costs are elevated as well, which is partly a function of the city being a major medical hub with large academic hospitals. Utility costs, particularly heating in winter, are another above-average expense. Natural gas and electric bills can be notably high from November through March.",[10,20,21],{},"Massachusetts has a flat state income tax of 5%, plus a 4% surtax on income above $1 million. For most workers, the effective state tax burden is around 5%, which is moderate compared to states like California or New York. Boston's MBTA transit system covers much of the metro area, and many workers avoid car ownership entirely, particularly those living within the core neighborhoods. That transit access provides real financial relief for households that can make the trade.",{"title":23,"searchDepth":24,"depth":24,"links":25},"",2,[],"What your salary is worth in Boston compared to the US average","md",{},true,"\u002Fcities\u002Fboston",{"title":5,"description":26},"cities\u002Fboston","sFJ-POnNSESqxNMxi-I5dkw4DbSXb5auPADK0FZ0fkk",1776796069917]