Quick answer
Overall prices in the Boston, MA metro were 108.3 vs 111.1 in Seattle, WA in 2024 (US = 100), so Boston is 2.6% less expensive than Seattle; housing rents differ by 2% (148.4 vs 151.3). A $75,000 income in Boston buys about what $76,986 buys in Seattle, per BEA.
Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024
| Price index (US = 100) | Boston | Seattle | Boston vs Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 108.3 | 111.1 | -2.6% |
| Goods | 99.7 | 104.0 | -4.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 148.4 | 151.3 | -1.9% |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 92.8 | +60.3% |
| Other services | 103.6 | 106.8 | -3.0% |
| All items, 2008 | 107.7 | 109.1 | -1.3% |
| $50,000 in Boston equals in Seattle | $51,324 | ||
| $100,000 in Boston equals in Seattle | $102,648 | ||
| $150,000 in Boston equals in Seattle | $153,972 |
Related
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- Cost of living: Boston, MA vs San Francisco, CA (2024)
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- Cost of living: Boston, MA vs St. Louis, MO (2024)
- Cost of living: Boston, MA vs Tampa, FL (2024)
- Cost of living: Boston, MA vs Virginia Beach, VA (2024)
- Cost of living: Washington, DC vs Boston, MA (2024)
- Cost of living in Boulder, CO vs US average (2024)
Last updated 2026-10-16. Data only, not financial or tax advice.