How much rent can you afford in Boston, MA?
Run your salary against Boston's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Boston
At a median rent of $3,414/mo, Boston is stretched for most renters when measured against Boston median household income of $97,344/yr. Rent would consume roughly 42% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $136,560 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Boston compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Boston?
On a $97,344 salary (the Boston median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $2,434/mo. Boston's median rent is $3,414/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Boston?
To keep Boston's $3,414/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $136,560/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Boston affordable on the median Massachusetts income?
Boston is stretched for most renters on a $97,344 income. Rent would take 42% of pre-tax pay, outside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".