Want to ‘Live Comfortably’ in Boston? Here’s How Much You Need To Earn

Boston's cost of living to maintain a comfortable lifestyle is getting more expensive.

A report from financial planning website SmartAsset found that a single adult needs to earn $139,776 to "live comfortably" in the city. Last year, that figure was $133,378.

With two adults in a working family of four, a couple needs to earn a combined salary of $368,742 to maintain a comfortable standard of living.

SmartAsset defines "living comfortably" as applying the 50/30/20 budgeting rule: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings.

The study used the MIT Living Wage Calculator to create its salary requirements.

CBS Boston WBZ-TV reported that the Boston Foundation's 2025 Housing Report Card found that a household income of more than $162,000 is required to afford a starter home in the Boston area. In Greater Boston, that cost exceeds $500,000, according to the report.

On a national scale, cities like San Jose, Irvine, Anaheim, and Santa Ana all cost more to live in than Boston. San Antonio, Texas, shows the lowest thresholds for both single adults and families among the cited examples: $83,242 for a single adult and $192,608 for families, according to the report.

In a survey conducted last fall, one in three Massachusetts voters is considering leaving the state due to the skyrocketing cost of living expenses. They cite utilities, health care, housing, and groceries as primary pressures on a household's budget.