Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Boston compared to Portland? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Boston | Metric | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 162 | Cost of Living Index | 123 | -24.1% |
| $680,000 | Median Home Price | $490,000 | -27.9% |
| $2,750 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,395 | -49.3% |
| $89,400 | Median Household Income | $81,200 | -9.2% |
| 1.1% | Property Tax Rate | 0.9% | -13.2% |
| 3.3% | Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | +27.3% |
| 32 min | Average Commute | 26 min | -18.8% |
| 32.6 | Median Age | 37 | +13.5% |
| 4,920,000 | Metro Population | 2,520,000 | -48.8% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Boston costs $4,237/month (PITI) compared to $2,996/month in Portland — a difference of $1,241/month or $14,892/year. The price-to-income ratio is 7.6x in Boston versus 6.0x in Portland, suggesting Portland is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 10.1 years to save a down payment in Boston compared to 8.0 years in Portland.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Boston | Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $89,400 | $81,200 |
| State Income Tax | $4,250 | $6,551 |
| Federal Income Tax | $11,117 | $9,313 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $6,839 | $6,211 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $7,208/yr | $4,508/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | None |
| Total Tax Burden | $22,206 (24.8%) | $22,075 (27.2%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $67,194 | $59,125 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $22,206 in Boston (24.8% effective) versus $22,075 in Portland (27.2% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $67,194 in Boston and $59,125 in Portland. Property taxes add $7,208/year on the median Boston home versus $4,508/year in Portland.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $89,400 in Boston (COL 162) and relocate to Portland (COL 123), you would need $67,878 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you can take a pay cut of $21,522 and still maintain your lifestyle in Portland.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Boston is 32 minutes versus 26 minutes in Portland, a difference of 6 minutes each way. Boston's lower unemployment rate of 3.3% versus 4.2% suggests a stronger job market. Portland skews slightly older with a median age of 37 vs 32.6 in Boston.
Boston is 24.1% more expensive than Portland overall. Boston has a cost of living index of 162 compared to 123 for Portland (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $680,000 in Boston vs $490,000 in Portland.
The median home price in Boston is $680,000, which is $190,000 more than Portland's median of $490,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $2,750/month in Boston vs $1,395/month in Portland, a difference of $1,355/month or $16,260/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $89,400 salary in Boston is equivalent to $67,878 in Portland. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Boston's COL index of 162 vs Portland's 123. Conversely, $81,200 in Portland equals $106,946 in Boston.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $22,206 (24.8% effective rate) in Boston vs $22,075 (27.2% effective rate) in Portland. Property taxes on the median home are $7,208/year in Boston (1.1% rate) vs $4,508/year in Portland (0.9% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Massachusetts and 0.0% in Oregon.
Boston median household income: $89,400/yr. Portland median household income: $81,200/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $2,750 in Boston vs $1,395 in Portland. Annualized that is $33,000 vs $16,740.
Portland offers a lower cost of living (index 123 vs 162), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Boston typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Boston and Portland numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Boston vs Portland cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .