Augusta vs Boston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Augusta
Boston
💡 The Verdict
Augusta is 38% cheaper than Boston overall. A $75,000 salary in Augusta is equivalent to $121,500 in Boston.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Augusta (left) vs Boston (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Augusta versus Boston. Differences shown from Augusta perspective.
| Item | Augusta | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $790/mo | $2,180/mo | $-1390.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,110/mo | $2,800/mo | $-1690.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,520/mo | $3,740/mo | $-2220.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.64 | $3.28 | $-0.64 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.61 | $3.92 | $-0.31 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.55 | $3.68 | $-0.13 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.72 | $6.03 | $-0.31 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.49 | $3.50 | $-0.01 |
| Restaurant Meal | $16.49 | $20.49 | $-4.00 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Augusta has the same purchasing power as $121,500 in Boston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Boston equals $46,296 in Augusta.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $375 difference is driven by Maine having a higher state income tax rate. Maine details → · Massachusetts details →
Reading These Numbers: Augusta (100) vs Boston (162)
Augusta at 100 is 0% below the US average, while Boston at 162 is 62% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.
In Augusta, the composite index of 100 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 86, followed by groceries (98), utilities (102), transportation (105), and healthcare (103). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,110/mo in Augusta and $2,800/mo in Boston, the annual rent difference is approximately $20,280.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $101,400.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $344,000.0 difference in median home prices between Augusta and Boston translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Augusta vs Boston
Choosing between Augusta and Boston involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Augusta and Boston reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.