Relocation comparison
San Diego, CA → Boston, MA
Moving from San Diego, CA to Boston, MA? Cost of living in Boston, MA is about 1% higher. A $100,000 lifestyle in San Diego, CA costs about $101,250 in Boston, MA. Here are the numbers.
Cost of living
+1%
162 vs 160 index
Matches a $100,000 lifestyle
$101,250
Matches a $100,000 lifestyle
Median 2-bed rent
+$200
$3,200/mo
Median home price
−$170,000
$780,000 median
What you'd need to earn to keep your lifestyle
| Salary today (San Diego, CA) | Equivalent there (Boston, MA) |
|---|---|
| $75,000 | $75,938 |
| $100,000 | $101,250 |
| $150,000 | $151,875 |
Illustrative figures for planning, not financial advice. Cost-of-living index uses US average = 100.
Questions people ask about this move
- Is Boston, MA more expensive than San Diego, CA?
- Yes. Cost of living in Boston, MA is about 1% higher than San Diego, CA (index 162 vs 160, US average = 100).
- How much do you need to earn in Boston, MA to match a $100,000 lifestyle in San Diego, CA?
- About $101,250. That's the salary in Boston, MA that buys roughly what $100,000 buys in San Diego, CA.
- What's the difference in housing between San Diego, CA and Boston, MA?
- Median 2-bed rent is $200/mo more, and the median home price is about $170,000 lower in Boston, MA.
- How does state income tax compare?
- Boston, MA runs about 5% versus 9.3% in San Diego, CA. On $100,000, that's roughly $4,300/yr less in tax.
Run your exact numbers
These are median figures. Your real answer depends on your salary, whether you own or rent, and the relocation package on the table. The full calculator works it out in a minute.
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