Travel budget and cost of living in Boston (United States) how much does a trip cost?

Boston travel budget

Boston: calculate your travel budget

Sample budgets for a trip to Boston

These example budgets assume a 2-week holiday in Boston for 2 people.

* estimated local budget for 2 people for 2 weeks (excluding plane tickets).

Cost of living in Boston compared to United States in 2026

On average, the cost of living in Boston in 2026 is 19% higher than the average cost of living in the United States (USA).

See the graphic below for the price variation percentage by type of expense in Boston in 2026 compared to average prices in the United States (USA):

Local prices in Boston by expense type

Restaurant budget in Boston

Lunch

$ 25/person
($ 15 to $ 44)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 20

3 course dinner

$ 61/person
($ 38 to $ 90)

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57% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 38

McDonald's meal

$ 12/person
($ 9.8 to $ 14)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 12

Local beer

$ 7.9 for 500ml
($ 5.9 to $ 12)

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34% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.9

Imported beer

$ 5 for 330ml
($ 3 to $ 8.9)

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39% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.6

Cappuccino

$ 5/cup
($ 3.4 to $ 7)

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6% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.3

Fizzy drink

$ 2.8/can
($ 2.5 to $ 4.3)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.6

Water bottle

$ 2.2/bottle
($ 1.9 to $ 4)

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8% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.1

Hotel and accommodation budget in Boston

1-star hotel

$ 286/night
($ 120 to $ 735)

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69% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 171

2-star hotel

$ 238/night
($ 97 to $ 876)

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42% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 168

3-star hotel

$ 317/night
($ 133 to $ 1115)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 246

4-star hotel

$ 458/night
($ 161 to $ 1612)

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31% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 351

5-star hotel

$ 754/night
($ 336 to $ 1294)

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29% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 589

Hostel/Youth Hostel

$ 288/month
($ 185 to $ 532)

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62% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 178

Room with kitchen

$ 338/month
($ 127 to $ 1239)

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26% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 269

Hotel with swimming pool

$ 329/month
($ 127 to $ 1242)

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47% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 225

Cottage or guest house

$ 310/month
($ 169 to $ 606)

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20% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 259

Family room

$ 292/month
($ 104 to $ 663)

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34% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 219

Supermarket food budget in Boston

Milk

$ 1.3/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 2.1)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.1

Bread

$ 4.1/500g
($ 2.7 to $ 7)

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43% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 7.2

Rice

$ 6/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 11)

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33% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.5

Eggs

$ 4.8/12 eggs
($ 3 to $ 7)

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11% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.3

Chicken

$ 14/kg
($ 8.7 to $ 28)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 13

Apples

$ 5.8/kg
($ 2.7 to $ 11)

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12% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 5.2

Tomatoes

$ 7.6/kg
($ 4.1 to $ 14)

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58% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 4.8

Potatoes

$ 4.4/kg
($ 1.9 to $ 7.9)

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51% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.9

Water bottle

$ 2.4
($ 0.9 to $ 3.4)

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4% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.3

Public and private transport budget in Boston

Bus ticket

$ 2.4/ticket
($ 2.4 to $ 4)

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3% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 2.5

Taxi (per km)

$ 1.8/km
($ 1.8 to $ 1.8)

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0% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 1.7

Petrol

$ 0.8/litre
($ 0.8 to $ 1.1)

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1% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 0.9

Taxi (initial pick-up charge)

$ 2.6
($ 2.6 to $ 2.7)

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25% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 3.5

Car hire

$ 68/24hrs
($ 41 to $ 113)

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18% less than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 83

Leisure activity budget in Boston

Cinema

$ 15/ticket
($ 12 to $ 22)

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1% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 15

Tennis

$ 37/hr
($ 25 to $ 45)

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59% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 23

Budget for clothes and price of cigarettes in Boston

Cigarettes

$ 13/pack
($ 12 to $ 15)

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21% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 10.3

Levi's jeans

$ 69
($ 41 to $ 120)

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28% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 54

Summer dress

$ 44
($ 25 to $ 61)

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2% more than in the United States (USA) Average price in the United States (USA): $ 43

Plane ticket budget

London → Boston

$ 667
(fair price: $ 556)

Montreal → Boston

$ 454
(fair price: $ 393)

Dublin → Boston

$ 582
(fair price: $ 498)

Manchester → Boston

$ 626
(fair price: $ 564)

Edinburgh → Boston

$ 723
(fair price: $ 609)

Los Angeles → Boston

$ 419
(fair price: $ 320)

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