Cost of Living: San Francisco vs Boston
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in San Francisco compared to Boston?
In San Francisco, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $86K in Boston. That means Boston offers 16% more spending power. Your money goes further in Boston.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Boston
$86K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $86K in Boston vs $100K in San Francisco
San Francisco
96.3
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Boston
83.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Boston is 14% cheaper than San Francisco
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both San Francisco and Boston, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | San Francisco median | Boston median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $200K | $153K | San Francisco wins by 11% |
| Data Scientists | $195K | $114K | San Francisco wins by 32% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $244K | $199K | San Francisco wins by 6% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $193K | $141K | San Francisco wins by 16% |
| Financial and Investment Analysts | $152K | $143K | Boston wins by 9% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.86x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in San Francisco vs Boston?
A: San Francisco is approximately 16% more expensive than Boston, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Boston is equivalent to about $116K in San Francisco. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in San Francisco to match $100,000 in Boston?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston, you would need approximately $116K in San Francisco. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between San Francisco and Boston?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, San Francisco wins by 11% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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