City cost comparison
New York City vs Boston
Housing, childcare, healthcare, food, and education — side by side for families weighing New York City, NY against Boston, MA.
Comparison matrix
Emerald badges flag the cheaper city for each line item; rose marks when the other city wins on cost.
Illustrative estimate — see methodology
| Metric | New York City, NY | Boston, MA | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HousingFamily housing premium / month | $1,800 | $1,350 | +33% cheaper in Boston |
| ChildcareAvg monthly (infant → school-age) | $2,217 | $2,040 | +9% cheaper in Boston |
| HealthcareFamily premium share + child OOP / month | $840 | $805 | +4% cheaper in Boston |
| FoodPer child / month | $480 | $450 | +7% cheaper in Boston |
| EducationAnnual baseline ÷ 12 | $112 | $108 | +4% cheaper in Boston |
Curated planning baselines (updated 2026-01-15 / 2026-01-15) — not live survey pulls. Verify local rates before major decisions.