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Boston vs Portland cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Boston
๐บ๐ธ Portland
At a glance
- Where Portland is clearly cheaper: Hotel night (50%โ), Studio rent (month) (47%โ), Taxi (24%โ)
- Where Boston is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (47%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Boston is easier to travel (1.4 vs 1.6). Biggest gap: safety โ Boston 2 vs Portland 3. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Boston | Portland | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 23$23 | $ 21$21 | Portland โ9% |
| Street food1 item | $ 14$14 | $ 13$13 | Portland โ7% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 50$50 | $ 42$42 | Portland โ16% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.8$5.8 | $ 5.5$5.5 | Portland โ5% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 8$8 | $ 7$7 | Portland โ12% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 18$18 | $ 14$14 | Portland โ22% |
| Bottled water | $ 2.3$2.3 | $ 2$2 | Portland โ13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.8$2.8 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Portland โ11% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 13$13 | Portland โ24% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 11$11 | $ 9$9 | Portland โ18% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.4$2.4 | $ 2.8$2.8 | Boston โ14% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 300$300 | $ 150$150 | Portland โ50% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 2,900$2,900 | $ 1,550$1,550 | Portland โ47% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Portland โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 32$32 | $ 35$35 | Boston โ9% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 110$110 | $ 90$90 | Portland โ18% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 45$45 | $ 85$85 | Boston โ47% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Portland โ17% |
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 Portland?
Portland is 37% cheaper than Boston. Daily budget $484 vs $303; a month $9,338 vs $5,928.
Which is easier to travel, Boston or Portland?
Boston is easier: Boston 1.4/5 vs Portland 1.6/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Boston and Portland?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Boston is about $9,338 and Portland about $5,928 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.