Massachusetts Cost of Living Calculator 2026

Compare cost of living in Massachusetts to other US states and cities. See equivalent salary needed when relocating.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated October 19, 2026 · Methodology

Current Annual Salary

Current City

Target City

Equivalent Salary Needed

$136,936.94

Difference

+$36,936.94

Cost Difference

+36.94%

Cost of Living Comparison

Austin, TX Index	111
Boston, MA Index	152
National Average	100
Your Current Salary	$100,000.00
Equivalent in Boston, MA	$136,936.94
You would need more	$36,936.94

Breakdown by Category (Annual)

Housing	+75.00%
Current (Austin, TX)	$40,000.00
Target (Boston, MA)	$70,000.00
Food & Groceries	+10.00%
Current (Austin, TX)	$15,000.00
Target (Boston, MA)	$16,500.00
Transportation	+15.00%
Current (Austin, TX)	$15,000.00
Target (Boston, MA)	$17,250.00
Healthcare	+14.29%
Current (Austin, TX)	$10,000.00
Target (Boston, MA)	$11,428.57

Cost of living indices are approximate and based on aggregate data. Individual expenses may vary significantly. Housing costs tend to have the largest impact when moving between cities.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

Massachusetts Cost of Living Overview

Understanding the cost of living in Massachusetts means looking at taxes, housing, and everyday expenses together. Massachusetts levies a flat income tax, which directly impacts take-home pay. The average property tax rate is 0.95%, and the state sales tax rate is 6.25%.

Massachusetts is a high-cost state, and taxes are only part of why. The tax side is actually predictable: a flat 5% income tax, a flat 6.25% sales tax with no local add-on, and property tax averaging 0.95% of home value. Where budgets really stretch is housing, especially in greater Boston and the surrounding commuter belt, where rents and home prices run well above national norms and drive much of the gap between a Massachusetts paycheck and what it actually buys.

Comparing salaries between places therefore means looking past the headline number. The flat 5% income tax and statewide 6.25% sales tax travel with you anywhere in Massachusetts, so the variable that moves most between, say, Boston and Springfield is housing and the local property tax rate. A salary that feels generous in western Massachusetts can feel tight inside Route 128. When weighing an offer, it helps to convert pay into after-tax, after-rent terms, subtract federal tax, the 5% state tax, and the PFML contribution, then measure what is left against local housing to see how far the money goes.

Massachusetts Cost Snapshot (2026)

Avg. Property Tax Rate	0.95%
State Sales Tax Rate	6.25%
Minimum Wage	$15.00/hr
State Income Tax	5.00% flat rate
State Disability Insurance (SDI)	No
Estate / Inheritance Tax	Yes

City indexes (U.S. average = 100) are planning estimates on one scale. The 29 cities added in August 2026 were reconciled from BestPlaces city pages, the Payscale and RentCafe cost-of-living calculators (both built on the C2ER Cost of Living Index) and the MERIC state index for Q1 2026; the original 30 large metros date from April 2026 and have not been re-checked since. Local rents and home prices can differ a lot within a metro, and the equivalent salary does not account for income taxes.

Official Sources:

Massachusetts Cost of Living FAQ

Is Massachusetts an expensive state to live in?

Yes, Massachusetts ranks among the higher-cost states, driven mainly by housing in and around Boston rather than by an unusually heavy tax load. Its income tax is a flat 5% and sales tax is 6.25% with no local surcharge, which are middle-of-the-road, but home prices, rents, and some property tax rates push the overall cost of living above the national average. Costs ease considerably in central and western parts of the state.

How do I compare a salary offer between two Massachusetts cities?

Start from after-tax pay, the flat 5% state tax and 6.25% sales tax apply the same everywhere in Massachusetts, so they do not change between cities. The real differences are housing cost and the local property tax rate, which vary sharply between, for example, Boston and Worcester. Subtracting estimated rent or mortgage plus property tax from take-home pay gives a more honest comparison than the gross salary alone.

Which costs vary most across Massachusetts, taxes or housing?

Housing, by a wide margin. Income and sales tax rates are uniform statewide, so they are constant whether you live on Cape Cod or in the Berkshires. Housing prices and local property tax rates, on the other hand, swing dramatically by region, which is why two people earning the same Massachusetts salary can have very different standards of living depending on where they settle.

How do Massachusetts taxes factor into a household budget?

For most households the predictable pieces are the flat 5% income tax taken from each paycheck, the 6.25% sales tax on taxable purchases, and an annual property tax averaging 0.95% of a home's value. The Paid Family and Medical Leave contribution is a smaller, separate payroll deduction. Because the tax rates are flat and statewide, the biggest swing factor in a Massachusetts budget is almost always housing rather than tax.