Studio Apartment Rent in Boston, MA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Boston, Massachusetts as of August 2026. That's +25% lower than the citywide median of $3,414 and +97% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Boston
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Boston
Compare Boston's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Massachusetts
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicopee | $970 |
| 2 | Holyoke | $970 |
| 3 | Westfield | $1,000 |
| 4 | Gardner | $1,010 |
| 5 | New Bedford | $1,030 |
| 6 | Springfield | $1,055 |
| 7 | Fairhaven | $1,060 |
| 8 | Fitchburg | $1,080 |
| 9 | Pittsfield | $1,120 |
| 10 | Spencer | $1,160 |
| 11 | Ware | $1,160 |
| 12 | Webster | $1,160 |
| 13 | Fall River | $1,170 |
| 14 | Leominster | $1,190 |
| 15 | Lawrence | $1,290 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Massachusetts
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lexington | $3,360 |
| 2 | Wellesley | $3,180 |
| 3 | Brookline | $3,133 |
| 4 | Cambridge | $3,080 |
| 5 | Concord | $2,780 |
| 6 | Wilmington | $2,690 |
| 7 | Somerville | $2,633 |
| 8 | Burlington | $2,580 |
| 9 | Bedford | $2,580 |
| 10 | Belmont | $2,570 |
| 11 | Boston (this page) | $2,544 |
| 12 | Ashland | $2,500 |
| 13 | Winchester | $2,470 |
| 14 | Swampscott | $2,470 |
| 15 | Medford | $2,470 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Boston.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 3.4 mi | $3,080 | +$536 (+21%) |
| Brookline, MA | 3.8 mi | $3,133 | +$589 (+23%) |
| Somerville, MA | 4.3 mi | $2,633 | +$89 (+3%) |
| Everett, MA | 5.5 mi | $2,060 | $-484 (-19%) |
| Chelsea, MA | 5.7 mi | $2,000 | $-544 (-21%) |
| Quincy, MA | 6.5 mi | $2,183 | $-361 (-14%) |
| Medford, MA | 6.6 mi | $2,470 | $-74 (-3%) |
| Malden, MA | 6.9 mi | $2,290 | $-254 (-10%) |
| Winthrop, MA | 7.9 mi | $2,010 | $-534 (-21%) |
| Belmont, MA | 8.1 mi | $2,570 | +$26 (+1%) |
| Revere, MA | 8.2 mi | $2,000 | $-544 (-21%) |
| Newton, MA | 8.2 mi | $2,445 | $-99 (-4%) |
Studio rent in Boston — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Boston?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Boston, Massachusetts is $2,544 per month. This is +25% below the citywide median of $3,414.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Boston?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $101,760 ($8,480/month gross), which works out to roughly $48.92/hour at a full-time job.
Is Boston expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Boston's studio median of $2,544 is +97% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 97th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Boston rank for studio rent in Massachusetts?
Among the 111 cities in Massachusetts with studio data, Boston ranks #101 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Boston?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Everett ($2,060), Chelsea ($2,000), Quincy ($2,183).