Household Budget
🦞 Massachusetts · BLS metro data

The Boston household budget

Based on median net household income ~$6,200/month in the Boston metro area (BLS 2023) · 🚇 MBTA (The T) — good coverage in the city; suburbs more car-dependent Adjust any category below, then export to PDF or Excel — free.

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Boston household budget breakdown

The average Boston household takes home approximately 6,200 USD per month after taxes. Housing is typically the largest expense, accounting for around 34% of net income. The top spending categories are housing (34%), food & groceries (12%) and savings & investments (11%). Financial guidelines recommend saving at least 11% of monthly income to build an emergency fund and long-term financial security. Use this free budget template to enter your own income, adjust each category to match your lifestyle, and export your personalised plan to PDF or Excel.

Based on BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey — Boston metro area.

Frequently asked questions

What is a typical monthly household budget in Boston, Massachusetts?▾
Based on official spending data, a typical household in Boston, Massachusetts spends around $ 6,200/month. The largest expenses are housing, food & groceries, savings & investments. Use the budget tool above to personalise these figures to your income.
How much of my income should I spend on housing in Boston, Massachusetts?▾
The guideline for Boston, Massachusetts is to spend around 34% of your monthly net income on housing costs (rent or mortgage, property taxes, and home insurance). On an income of $ 6,200/month, that works out to about $ 2,108/month.
What is a realistic grocery budget in Boston, Massachusetts?▾
A typical household in Boston, Massachusetts spends around 12% of monthly income on food and groceries — roughly $ 744/month based on average incomes. This covers supermarket shopping but not dining out, which is tracked separately.
How much does transport cost per month in Boston, Massachusetts?▾
Transport typically accounts for 10% of a household budget in Boston, Massachusetts, or about $ 620/month. This includes car ownership, fuel, parking, and public transit.
How much should I save each month in Boston, Massachusetts?▾
Financial guidelines for Boston, Massachusetts recommend saving 11% of your net monthly income — about $ 682/month at the average income level. This covers emergency funds, retirement contributions, and investments.
Is Boston expensive to live in (Boston city)?▾
Boston, Massachusetts has an average net household income of $ 6,200/month. The biggest cost drivers are housing and food & groceries. Use the budget builder above to see a full breakdown and compare it with other countries.