Boston vs Seattle Cost of Living Comparison — Salary, Rent & Expenses
To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Boston, you'd need about $102,600 in Seattle — a $2,600 premium per year.
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly spending for a middle-income household, adjusted by each metro's BEA price level.
Equivalent Salary: Boston → Seattle
The salary you'd need in Seattle to maintain the same purchasing power as each income level in Boston, using the BEA price ratio of 1.026.
| Salary in Boston | Equivalent in Seattle | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $51,300 | +$1,300 |
| $75,000 | $76,900 | +$1,900 |
| $100,000 | $102,600 | +$2,600 |
| $150,000 | $153,900 | +$3,900 |
| $200,000 | $205,200 | +$5,200 |
Boston vs Seattle: What the Numbers Mean
Moving from Boston, MA to Seattle, WA means your everyday costs are more expensive by roughly 2.6%. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis measures Boston's overall price level at 108.3 and Seattle's at 111.1, where 100 represents the national average. In practical terms, a household spending $5,551 per month in Boston would spend about $5,703 for the equivalent lifestyle in Seattle — a swing of $152 every month, or $1,824 per year.
Housing is the decisive factor. Estimated monthly housing runs $2,414 in Boston against $2,520 in Seattle. Because rent and mortgage costs vary far more between metros than groceries or utilities, the housing line alone accounts for most of the 2.6% gap.
For salary negotiation or a remote-work relocation, the key number is the equivalent salary. A $100,000 income in Boston has the same purchasing power as $102,600 in Seattle. Looked at the other way, $100,000 in Seattle is worth about $97,500 in Boston terms. Use the Cost of Living Calculator to plug in your own expenses.
Cost of living compares prices across places at one point in time. The related question — how prices in one place have changed over time — is answered by inflation. To see what an income or price from an earlier decade is worth in today's money, see what old money is worth today, which converts any amount from 1913 onward using Consumer Price Index data.
Don't forget state taxes
Price levels don't include income tax, which can significantly swing your real take-home pay — especially between MA and WA.
Related Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Seattle more expensive than Boston?
Seattle is 2.6% more expensive than Boston overall. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024), Boston has a price level of 108.3 versus 111.1 for Seattle, where 100 equals the national average.
What salary do I need in Seattle to match $100,000 in Boston?
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary in Boston, you would need about $102,600 in Seattle — a difference of $2,600 per year.
Which costs more, housing in Boston or Seattle?
Estimated monthly housing runs about $2,414 in Boston versus $2,520 in Seattle. Housing is the single biggest driver of the cost-of-living gap between the two metros.
Sources & methodology
Price levels use the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities for metropolitan areas (2024, released February 2026). Boston maps to the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH MSA; Seattle maps to the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA. Category spending baselines come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Category-level figures are modeled estimates and are illustrative; actual costs vary by household. This is a planning tool, not financial advice.