Cost of Living: Salem, MA vs Boston, MA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,224/mo in Salem, MA versus $4,224/mo in Boston, MA. In the model, rent is about 26.23% of gross in Salem, MA versus 30.5% in Boston, MA, so Salem, MA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Salem, MA and Boston, MA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Salem, MA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Salem, MA
- Lower home prices: Salem, MA
- Higher median household income: Boston, MA
Cost of Living Index
Salem, MA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Boston, MA: 156.3 (U.S. = 100)
Salem, MA has a lower cost-of-living index than Boston, MA, so a given salary generally stretches further there.
Median Rent
Salem, MA: $1,710/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Boston, MA: $1,989/mo
Median rent in Boston, MA is $279/mo higher than in Salem, MA.
Median Home Price
Salem, MA: $497,400 · Boston, MA: $710,400
Median home price in Boston, MA is $213,000 higher than in Salem, MA.
Median Household Income
Salem, MA: $85,137 · Boston, MA: $94,755
Boston, MA has a higher median household income than Salem, MA by $9,618.
Salem, MA overview · Boston, MA overview · Popular comparisons