Cost of living indexes mid-year in 2024 found Boston, Massachusetts to have the fifth highest cost of living in the world. Boston also ranked as the American city with the third highest cost of living, trailing just San Francisco (2) and New York City (1).
It’s no surprise, as Bostonians are well aware of the outrageous housing, gas, and basic lifestyle costs in the city. The Numbeo cost of living index analyzes annual as well as mid-year costs of living globally and then ranks the most expensive cities.
This year’s top ten global cities with the highest cost of living mid-year in 2024 include:
- Geneva, Switzerland
- Zurich, Switzerland
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Washington, DC
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
This year’s top ten American cities with the highest cost of living mid-year in 2024 include:
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, California
- Boston, MA
- Washington, DC
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- San Diego, CA
- Portland, OR
- Tampa, FL
Boston is the only New England city on the list. The rankings are determined by various key factors such as the average cost of rent, groceries, and entertainment in each city as well as the local purchasing power.