Median rent is 2% lower in Gilbert ($2,110/mo vs $2,147/mo). Buying is cheaper in Gilbert, where the median home runs $575,100 versus $731,700. Households earn more in Gilbert ($122,551 vs $97,344 a year).
City A
Boston, MA
City B
Gilbert, AZ
How much would you need to earn in Gilbert, AZ to maintain your standard of living from Boston, MA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Boston
Massachusetts
Gilbert
Arizona
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Median rents are similar in both cities: $2,147/mo in Boston and $2,110/mo in Gilbert. Home buyers face a steeper market in Boston: the median home is $731,700 versus $575,100 in Gilbert — 21% more expensive.
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Boston
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Gilbert
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Both cities have similar air quality: Boston averages 31.0 AQI (Good) and Gilbert averages 32.0 AQI (Good).
Pick Gilbert if you prioritize higher median household income ($122,551/yr).
Is Boston cheaper than Gilbert?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Boston vs Gilbert?
Median rent is $2,147/mo in Boston, MA and $2,110/mo in Gilbert, AZ. Gilbert, AZ has the lower rent by about 2%.
Which has higher salaries — Boston or Gilbert?
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston, MA and $122,551 in Gilbert, AZ. Gilbert, AZ has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Boston, MA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 32.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Boston or Gilbert?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Gilbert to match my Boston income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
