Median rent is 7% lower in Boston ($2,147/mo vs $2,313/mo). Buying is cheaper in Boston, where the median home runs $731,700 versus $906,700. Households earn more in San Diego ($108,077 vs $97,344 a year). Taken together, Boston is the more affordable choice with a cost index of 110.4 against 110.7 — about 0% lower overall prices. After adjusting income for local prices, a typical paycheck stretches further in San Diego, CA.
City A
Boston, MA
City B
San Diego, CA
How much would you need to earn in San Diego, CA to maintain your standard of living from Boston, MA?
Equivalent salary in San Diego, CA
$75,236
You'd need $236 more (0% 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
San Diego
California
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 Boston at $2,147/mo compared to $2,313/mo in San Diego (7% gap). Median home values are within 19% of each other: $731,700 in Boston and $906,700 in San Diego.
Metric
Boston
San Diego
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
San Diego
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Boston has cleaner air on average: 31.0 AQI (Good) compared to 59.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick San Diego if you prioritize higher median household income ($108,077/yr).
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 110.7 (US average = 100). That means prices run about 0% lower in Boston.
Median rent is $2,147/mo in Boston, MA and $2,313/mo in San Diego, CA. Boston, MA has the lower rent by about 7%.
Median household income is $97,344 in Boston, MA and $108,077 in San Diego, CA. San Diego, CA 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 59.0 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 $100,315 in San Diego, CA (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
