CostIndexUSA

Boston, MA vs New Haven, CT Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MA
Boston
108.3
overall index
$3,050/mo rent
More AffordableCT
New Haven
104.6
overall index
$1,975/mo rent

New Haven is slightly cheaper than Boston — 3.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boston, you would need $77,300 in New Haven. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing16.2%
Boston
148.4
New Haven
124.3
🛒 Groceries2.4%
Boston
99.7
New Haven
97.3
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Boston
108.8
New Haven
107.8
🏥 Healthcare0.9%
Boston
98.4
New Haven
97.5
Utilities2.7%
Boston
148.8
New Haven
144.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boston to see what you'd need to earn in New Haven to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in New Haven, CT
$77,300
$2,700 less needed in New Haven

Formula: salary × (104.6 ÷ 108.3) = salary × 0.9658. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boston, MA

Median Home Price
$709,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,050
Housing Index
148.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

New Haven, CT

Median Home Price
$386,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
124.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Boston has 16.2% lower housing costs compared to New Haven.

Income & Job Market

Boston, MA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
692,600
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTechnologyBiotechnology

New Haven, CT

Median Household Income
$80,700
Per Capita Income
$46,000
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
130,250
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingFinanceGovernment

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boston, MA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

New Haven, CT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.