About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Boston
#37 of 124
North America

Boston

MA, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Boston compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Boston is 30% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Boston compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$162,500
-$110K (-40%) vs San Francisco
Based on 2031 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$112,775
-$60K (-35%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 31%

Community Insights

New

Boston offers a sophisticated, high-paying alternative to Silicon Valley for software engineers, particularly those in specialized fields like biotech and robotics. While the median salary is high, the cost of living eats significantly into that purchasing power, and the housing market is notoriously brutal with its upfront broker fees. The city excels in intellectual capital, safety, and walkability, but suffers from a collapsing public transit system and a sleepy nightlife that frustrates younger transplants. It is a city of "smart" professionals who value history and education over the chaotic energy of New York or the boom-bust culture of San Francisco.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents exhibit a classic love-hate relationship. They fiercely defend the city's walkability and intelligence, often claiming they couldn't imagine living in a "dumber" or "car-centric" city. However, there is near-universal vitriol directed at the MBTA and landlords; discussions are dominated by complaints about train delays and the absurdity of paying broker fees. Transplants often report taking 1-2 years to feel socially integrated.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Net Income

Top 8%

#10

of 124 cities

$112,775/yr

Current value

Pollution Score

Top 18%

#22

of 124 cities

30/100

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Top 30%

#37

of 124 cities

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Boston compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$8,928 / m²
11% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Boston to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
7% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Boston

Facebook logo
Facebook
Datadog logo
Datadog
Google logo
Google

The Good

  • Biotech & Robotics Hub: Unlike the consumer-web focus of SF/NYC, Boston offers a unique, stable market for engineers in life sciences, defense, and deep tech (e.g., Boston Dynamics, Moderna).
  • Walkability & Transit Potential: Often cited as the "most European city" in the US; you can genuinely live car-free in Cambridge, Somerville, or Back Bay, unlike most US tech hubs.
  • Intellectual Density: The concentration of universities (MIT, Harvard, etc.) creates a uniquely high-brow social atmosphere; conversations often revolve around research and innovation.
  • Safety & Cleanliness: Consistently ranked as safer and cleaner than San Francisco or New York City, with significantly fewer issues regarding visible homelessness or street crime.
  • Proximity to Nature: Easy access to skiing in Vermont/NH in winter and beaches (Cape Cod) in summer, offering a distinct four-season lifestyle.

The Bad

  • Crumbling Infrastructure (MBTA): The public transit system ("The T") is a major source of rage; frequent derailments, slow zones, and shuttles make commuting unreliable despite the city's density.
  • Rental Broker Fees: One of the few cities where tenants are forced to pay a broker fee (often one month's rent) just to move into an apartment, on top of first/last/security.
  • Cost of Living: Housing is exceptionally expensive (#36 global affordability rank is misleadingly optimistic for desirable areas), with old, drafty housing stock commanding premium prices.
  • Early Closing Times: The city is jokingly called "the city that sleeps"; bars close firmly at 2 AM, and late-night food options are scarce compared to NYC.
  • "The Boston Freeze": Transplants frequently complain that social circles are insular; locals often stick to their childhood or college friend groups, making it hard to break in socially.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

Academic-adjacent engineers and those in deep tech (biotech, robotics) will find the most fulfilling careers here. It is ideal for those who want city walkability without the grit of SF or the overwhelming scale of NYC. If you enjoy winter sports, value safety, and prefer intellectual dinner parties over clubbing, you will thrive.

Skip it if...

Night owls and social butterflies who rely on spontaneity will struggle with the early closing times and reserved social culture. Engineers looking for the classic "consumer app" startup hustle may find the scene too conservative or B2B-focused. Anyone with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) should strictly avoid it due to the long, dark winters.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather5.2/10-40% vs San Francisco
Safety60+53%
Pollution30-39%
Events8-84%
5.2/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
15°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
7°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
2,634h/yr-428h/yr(-14%)
Hottest Month High
28°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
-5°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
88/yr+40/yr(+82%)

Community & Quality

Boston community pulse

Boston has 8 Luma events listed.

84% fewer events than San Francisco.

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#42

of 124 cities

52/100 weather score

Current value

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#44

of 124 cities

8 events on luma

Current value

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#44

of 124 cities

≈6.3 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#53

of 124 cities

60.3/100

Current value

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#59

of 124 cities

31%

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Bottom 4%

#120

of 124 cities

83/100

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
6.3 years
1.7 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
28/yr+28/yr(+14100%)
Cloud Cover
48%(vs 34% in San Francisco)