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Boston, MA Rent Affordability Calculator

The median rent in the Boston, MA area is $2,023 a month including utilities, which takes 21% of the median household income ($115,863). Paying it on 30% of income needs about $80,920 a year.

On $116,000 a year, 30% of income is $2,900 a month for rent. A $2,020 rent takes 20.9% of gross income; many landlords want income of 40 times the rent, $80,800.

Rent you can afford
$2,900 a month
That rent takes
20.9% of income
Income a landlord may ask for (40× rent)
$80,800

Rent you can afford in Boston, MA by income (30% rule)

IncomeAffordable rentAgainst the median rent
$40,000$1,000−50.6%
$60,000$1,500−25.9%
$80,000$2,000−1.1%
$100,000$2,50023.6%
$150,000$3,75085.4%

How this calculator works

Median gross rent and median household income for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan area, from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates. Affordable rent is 30% of gross monthly income.

What it assumes

  • Medians across all rentals, of every size and age; new listings usually ask more.

Questions people ask

What is the average rent in Boston, MA?

The median gross rent is $2,023 a month, including utilities (Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

What salary do I need to live in Boston, MA?

To rent at the median on 30% of income, about $80,920 a year; many landlords ask for 40 times the rent, $80,920.

Is rent affordable in Boston, MA?

The median rent takes 21% of the median household income there, within the 30% guideline.

How does the cost of living in Boston, MA compare?

Overall prices are 8.3% above the US average, and housing 48.4% above (BEA, 2024).

Nearby and large metro areas

Related calculators

  • Rent Affordability CalculatorThe rent your income supports under the 30% guideline, what a given rent takes of your pay, and the income landlords often ask for, with median rents in large metro areas.
  • Boston, MA Cost of Living CalculatorPrices in the Boston, MA area are 8.3% above the US average, and housing 48.4% above (BEA, 2024). Compare a salary here with anywhere else.
  • Rent vs Buy CalculatorWhether buying or renting leaves you better off after the years you plan to stay, counting mortgage interest, tax, upkeep, selling costs and what a renter earns investing the down payment.

Sources

Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.