Boston vs Columbus

Cost of living and salary reality, side by side. At $60-80k, $70,000 in Boston feels like approximately $31,400 in Columbus.

Data: 2026-Q2 · BLS · HUD · KFF

Your $60-80k in Boston feels like $31,400 in Columbus. Moving would decrease your purchasing power by 55%.

Income
Housing

Boston

Columbus

Breathing Room
 
Housing Pressure
high
 
low
1BR Rent
$2,476/mo
 
$1,194/mo
State Tax
MA tax applies
 
OH tax applies
Take-Home /mo
$4,278
 
$4,598
Remote Work Fit
Boston's dense transit makes car-free remote work viable. Remote workers should weigh housing costs carefully — the metro's premium reflects in-person employment demand more than remote worker value.
 
Columbus is a strong value proposition for remote workers. Intel's new semiconductor manufacturing complex in the outer Columbus metro is also creating new in-person tech employment opportunities.
Walk Score
83
 
41
Getting By
$60-80k · Boston vs Columbus
Income Reality Check

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Curious what a raise — or a different path — would change?

THEN — $60-80k
NOW — $60-80k
~$4,278/mo take-home

At $60-80k in Boston, your picture shifts from getting-by toward getting-by.

No city is objectively better. Boston and Columbus each fit different priorities — the right one depends on what you're building toward.

Related comparisons

Boston vs New York CityBoston vs PhiladelphiaBoston vs Washington, DC
Boston profile Columbus profile Run Reality Check →
FAQ

Boston vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Columbus?

HUD FY2026 1BR Fair Market Rent is $2,476/mo in Boston and $1,194/mo in Columbus. Columbus has lower median housing costs. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR.

How much do I need to earn in Columbus to match Boston?

At a $60-80k income, $70,000 in Boston feels like approximately $31,400 in Columbus — a reduction of about 55% in purchasing power.

What is the state tax difference between Boston and Columbus?

Boston is in MA (MA levies income tax) and Columbus is in OH (OH levies income tax). Source: Tax Foundation 2025.

Which city has more breathing room?

Breathing room depends on your income and housing situation. Use the interactive comparison above to see how each city's picture changes across income bands.

Income Reality Check is an educational tool, not financial advice. Your situation has more dimensions than any tool can capture.