CostIndexUSA

Boston, MA vs Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableMA
Boston
108.3
overall index
$3,050/mo rent
CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

Boston is slightly cheaper than Garden Grove — 4.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boston, you would need $83,900 in Garden Grove. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+14.8%
Boston
148.4
Garden Grove
170.4
🛒 Groceries+6.9%
Boston
99.7
Garden Grove
106.6
🚗 Transportation+0.7%
Boston
108.8
Garden Grove
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+0.7%
Boston
98.4
Garden Grove
99.1
Utilities+6.6%
Boston
148.8
Garden Grove
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Boston to see what you'd need to earn in Garden Grove to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Garden Grove, CA
$83,900
$3,900 more needed in Garden Grove

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 108.3) = salary × 1.0489. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Boston, MA

Median Home Price
$709,000
Median Monthly Rent
$3,050
Housing Index
148.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.4×

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Garden Grove has 14.8% higher housing costs compared to Boston.

Income & Job Market

Boston, MA

Median Household Income
$110,700
Per Capita Income
$63,100
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
692,600
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTechnologyBiotechnology

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Boston, MA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.