CostIndexUSA

Boston, MA vs Longview, TX Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

MA
Boston
108.3
overall index
$3,050/mo rent
More AffordableTX
Longview
89.5
overall index
$1,150/mo rent

Longview is significantly cheaper than Boston — 17.4% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Boston, you would need $66,100 in Longview. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing55.1%
Boston
148.4
Longview
66.7
🛒 Groceries5.9%
Boston
99.7
Longview
93.8
🚗 Transportation7.1%
Boston
108.8
Longview
101.1
🏥 Healthcare7.1%
Boston
98.4
Longview
91.4
Utilities43.9%
Boston
148.8
Longview
83.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Longview, TX
$66,100
$13,900 less needed in Longview

Formula: salary × (89.5 ÷ 108.3) = salary × 0.8264. 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×

Longview, TX

Median Home Price
$209,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,150
Housing Index
66.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
15.1×

Boston has 55.1% lower housing costs compared to Longview.

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

Longview, TX

Median Household Income
$64,000
Per Capita Income
$36,500
Unemployment Rate
4.1%
Population
82,671
Top Industries
EnergyHealthcareManufacturingRetailAgriculture

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)

Longview, TX
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% 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.