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Compare cities βΊ Boston vs Los Angeles
Boston vs Los Angeles cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money Β· Updated September 2026
πΊπΈ Boston
πΊπΈ Los AngelesLos Angeles is 13% cheaper than Boston
Living on $9,315 a month in Boston feels like about $8,136 in Los Angeles β same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$427 vs $369
Per month
$9,315 vs $8,136
Local meal
$ 18 vs $ 18
$18 vs $18
Taxi 5 km
$ 20 vs $ 20
$20 vs $20
At a glance
Foodsimilar
CafΓ©s & drinkssimilar
TransportLos Angeles 10% cheaper
StayLos Angeles 18% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Los Angeles is clearly cheaper: Transit (30%β), Hotel night (20%β), Studio rent (month) (17%β)
Item by item
| Item | Boston | Los Angeles | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 18$18 | $ 18$18 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 8.1$8.1 | $ 8.1$8.1 | similar |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 50$50 | $ 45$45 | Los Angeles β10% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.5$5.5 | $ 5.5$5.5 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | $ 8$8 | $ 8$8 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 21$21 | $ 21$21 | similar |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2$2 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 5$5 | $ 5$5 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 20$20 | $ 20$20 | similar |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 12$12 | $ 12$12 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.5$2.5 | $ 1.75$1.75 | Los Angeles β30% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 60$60 | $ 62$62 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 250$250 | $ 200$200 | Los Angeles β20% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 3,000$3,000 | $ 2,500$2,500 | Los Angeles β17% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 25$25 | $ 26$26 | similar |
| Haircutcut | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 100$100 | $ 100$100 | similar |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 90$90 | $ 93$93 | similar |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 25$25 | $ 26$26 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Boston or Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is 13% cheaper than Boston. Daily budget $427 vs $369; a month $9,315 vs $8,136.
How do monthly costs compare between Boston and Los Angeles?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Boston is about $9,315 and Los Angeles about $8,136 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.