Last updated
Average Rent in Boston, MA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 25 apartment communities in Boston, MA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,897/mo
▲ +9.6% from last month
Lowest Available
$1,205/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
25
tracked daily
Units Listed
306
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Boston, MA
89 listed units across 17 buildings in Boston, MA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $528/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elevated Boston | Unit 4 | $14,017 | $8,791 | $5,226 |
| Elevated Boston | Unit 6 | $12,426 | $7,912 | $4,514 |
| Elevated Boston | Unit 5 | $12,679 | $8,352 | $4,327 |
| Avalon Exeter | Unit 12 | $13,375 | $9,575 | $3,800 |
| Avalon Exeter | Unit 9 | $9,225 | $5,535 | $3,690 |
| Avalon Exeter | Unit 13 | $13,775 | $10,175 | $3,600 |
| Avalon Exeter | Unit 8 | $8,340 | $5,387 | $2,953 |
| Avalon Exeter | Unit 11 | $11,430 | $9,075 | $2,355 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Boston, MA
Compare average rent across Boston, MA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston 02199 | $7,444 | $3,775 | 1 | 16 |
| South Boston | $5,934 | $2,735 | 3 | 26 |
| West End | $5,452 | $3,347 | 3 | 39 |
| Chinatown | $4,763 | $3,338 | 2 | 15 |
| D Street / West Broadway | $4,733 | $3,114 | 12 | 162 |
| South End | $4,327 | $3,196 | 1 | 15 |
| Prudential / St. Botolph | $3,309 | $1,205 | 3 | 33 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Boston, MA?
As of July 2026, the average rent in Boston, MA is $4,897 per month across 25 apartment communities and 306 available units. Rents have increased $423 (9.6%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Boston Pads starting at $1,205/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $3,617/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $4,402/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $6,923/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $8,863/mo.
Prices range from $1,205 to $14,815 per month. The most common price point is the $4,600 range, where 31 units are currently listed.
Boston, MA Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Boston, MA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Boston, MA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Pads | $1,205/mo | $2,699/mo | 25 | 4.9 |
| West Square Apartments | $2,735/mo | $2,735/mo | 1 | 3.4 |
| South Standard | $3,097/mo | $4,422/mo | 19 | 4.9 |
| Flats on D | $3,114/mo | $3,769/mo | 13 | 4.4 |
| Ink Block | $3,196/mo | $4,327/mo | 15 | 4.5 |
| The Metlo | $3,245/mo | $5,043/mo | 22 | 4.6 |
| VIA Seaport Residences Apartments | $3,271/mo | $4,053/mo | 25 | 4.7 |
Google Search Trends for Boston, MA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Boston, MA
What is the average rent in Boston, MA?
Is rent going up or down in Boston, MA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Boston, MA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Boston, MA?
How many apartments are available in Boston, MA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Boston, MA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$196,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,897/mo.
Comfortable income
$235,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,205/mo), you need to earn at least $48,000/year.
Median household income in Boston, MA is $94,755 , about 60% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Boston, MA
Overall prices in Boston, MA runs above the national average by about 10% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 110.4, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Boston, MA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $4,897 |
| Utilities | $637 |
| Groceries | $544 |
| Transportation | $1,520 |
| Healthcare | $741 |
| Other goods and services | $1,186 |
| Estimated total | $9,525/mo |
Population
663,972
Median household income
$94,755
Census median rent
$2,093/mo
Rent as % of income
30.1%
Median age
33.2
Mean commute
30 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Explore Boston, MA Apartments
Browse all 25 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.