Median rent is 18% lower in Miami ($1,758/mo vs $2,147/mo). Buying is cheaper in Miami, where the median home runs $518,100 versus $731,700. Households earn more in Boston ($97,344 vs $62,462 a year). Taken together, Boston is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 110.4 against 112.1 — about 2% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in Boston, MA.
Cost of living verdict
Boston is 2% cheaper overall
Cost of Living Index: 110.4 in Boston vs 112.1 in Miami (US national average = 100)
City A
Boston, MA
City B
Miami, FL
How much would you need to earn in Miami, FL to maintain your standard of living from Boston, MA?
Equivalent salary in Miami, FL
$76,152
You'd need $1,152 more (2% higher).
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
Miami
Florida
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 rent is modestly lower in Miami at $1,758/mo compared to $2,147/mo in Boston (18% gap). Home buyers face a steeper market in Boston: the median home is $731,700 versus $518,100 in Miami — 29% more expensive.
Metric
Boston
Miami
Software Developer
Registered Nurse
Elementary Teacher
Electrician
Accountant
Higher wage highlighted · 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
Miami
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Boston has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 37.0 AQI (Good) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Boston if you prioritize higher median household income ($97,344/yr).
Pick Miami if you prioritize cheaper rent ($1,758/mo median).
Pick Boston if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 31.0).
Boston is cheaper overall, with a cost of living index of 110.4 versus 112.1 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 2% lower in Boston.
Median rent is $2,147/mo in Boston, MA and $1,758/mo in Miami, FL. Miami, FL has the lower rent by about 18%.
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston, MA and $62,462 in Miami, FL. Boston, MA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Boston, MA has better air quality on average: 31.0 AQI versus 37.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
To maintain the same purchasing power, a salary of $100,000 in Boston, MA is equivalent to roughly $101,535 in Miami, FL (using the BEA Regional Price Parity ratio). Use the salary calculator above for any income amount.
Data last updated: June 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
