Last updated
Average Rent in Boston, MA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 14 apartment communities in Boston, MA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$5,861/mo
▲ +10% from last month
Lowest Available
$4,662/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
14
tracked daily
Units Listed
38
available now
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 | $5,679 | $4,035 | 1 | 6 |
| D Street / West Broadway | $4,719 | $2,865 | 9 | 151 |
| Prudential / St. Botolph | $4,613 | $3,705 | 2 | 17 |
| Chinatown | $4,545 | $2,860 | 5 | 50 |
| South Boston | $4,338 | $2,735 | 2 | 20 |
| West End | $3,604 | $3,137 | 2 | 6 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Boston, MA?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Boston, MA is $5,861 per month across 14 apartment communities and 38 available units. Rents have increased $446 (10%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is South Standard starting at $4,662/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $5,861/mo.
Prices range from $4,662 to $8,770 per month. The most common price point is the $4,600 range, where 10 units are currently listed.
Boston, MA Rent Price History
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Boston, MA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Boston, MA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Standard | $4,662/mo | $4,785/mo | 11 | 4.9 |
| The Victor by Windsor | $4,761/mo | $4,761/mo | 1 | 4.8 |
| Flats on D | $4,764/mo | $4,821/mo | 2 | 4.4 |
| 315 on A Apartments | $5,440/mo | $5,577/mo | 3 | 4.4 |
| 660 Washington Apartments | $5,545/mo | $5,717/mo | 6 | 4.5 |
| Waterside Place Apartments by Windsor | $5,808/mo | $5,808/mo | 1 | 4.8 |
| Gables Seaport | $6,034/mo | $6,818/mo | 3 | 4.8 |
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 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
$234,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $5,861/mo.
Comfortable income
$281,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($4,662/mo), you need to earn at least $186,000/year.
Median household income in Boston, MA is $94,755 , about 66% 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) | $5,861 |
| Utilities | $637 |
| Groceries | $544 |
| Transportation | $1,520 |
| Healthcare | $741 |
| Other goods and services | $1,186 |
| Estimated total | $10,489/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 14 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.