City comparison
Boston, MA vs Boulder, CO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Boston, MA are 2.9% higher than in Boulder, CO. Someone earning $100,000 in Boulder, CO would need about $102,900 in Boston, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $2,476 a month in Boston, MA versus $1,795 in Boulder, CO. On $100,000, that's 40% of take-home pay in Boston, MA and 29% in Boulder, CO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,088 a year higher in Boston, MA than in Boulder, CO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −1.6% moving from Boston, MA to Boulder, CO ($120,548 → $118,675), while prices change by −2.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Boston, MA: price level 108.3 (much pricier)
- Boulder, CO: price level 105.2 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Boston, MA | Boulder, CO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 108.3 | 105.2 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,170 in Boulder | $102,912 in Boston |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $2,476/mo | $1,795/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $75,488 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $3,692 (CO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 40% | 29% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $66,620 | $69,580 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Denver-Aurora, CO |
Rent areas: Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area and Boulder, CO MSA. Metro areas: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Boulder, CO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Boston | Boulder |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 148.4 | 157.0 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 96.1 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 82.7 |
| Other services | 103.6 | 99.8 |
| Overall | 108.3 | 105.2 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Boston, MA → Boulder, CO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.9%; rent takes 29% of take-home; state tax −$1,088/yr.
73 Strong offer
Boulder, CO → Boston, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.8%; rent takes 40% of take-home; state tax +$1,088/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Boston, MA is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Boulder, CO is in Denver-Aurora, CO. The last column shows what a transfer from Boston, MA to Boulder, CO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Boston, MA | Boulder, CO | Real change, Boston → Boulder |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $68,819 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $83,265 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $99,800 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $118,675 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $140,239 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Boston, MA | Boulder, CO | Boulder pay in Boston dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $98,060 | $80,640 | $82,989 (−15.4%) |
| Software Developers | $166,090 | $164,560 | $169,353 (+2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $100,150 | $99,990 | $102,902 (+2.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $106,180 | $103,290 | $106,298 (+0.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.