CostIndexUSA

Boston, MA vs Vallejo, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostMA
Boston
108.3
overall index
$3,050/mo rent
CA
Vallejo
108.5
overall index
$2,375/mo rent

Boston and Vallejo have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing4.3%
Boston
148.4
Vallejo
142
🛒 Groceries+5.5%
Boston
99.7
Vallejo
105.2
🚗 Transportation3.2%
Boston
108.8
Vallejo
105.3
🏥 Healthcare3.2%
Boston
98.4
Vallejo
95.3
Utilities+4.2%
Boston
148.8
Vallejo
155

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Vallejo, CA
$80,100
$100 more needed in Vallejo

Formula: salary × (108.5 ÷ 108.3) = salary × 1.0018. 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×

Vallejo, CA

Median Home Price
$567,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,375
Housing Index
142
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.9×

Boston has 4.3% lower housing costs compared to Vallejo.

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

Vallejo, CA

Median Household Income
$100,000
Per Capita Income
$57,000
Unemployment Rate
4.9%
Population
121,253
Top Industries
HealthcareMilitaryManufacturingRetailGovernment

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)

Vallejo, CA
3.5×income-to-rent ratio

72% 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.