Boston vs Seattle: Cost of Living & Housing Comparison

Comparing home values: Boston sits at $684,900, 22% lower than Seattle's $879,900.

Typical households bring in $89,212 a year in Boston, versus $116,068 in Seattle.

Boston's median rent sits at $1,981, against $1,945 in Seattle.

Seattle's FEMA hazard rating (Very High) is higher than Boston's (Relatively Moderate) — worth noting if climate risk factors into your decision.

Metric	Boston, MA	Seattle, WA
Population	665,945	734,603
Median home value	$684,900	$879,900
Median household income	$89,212	$116,068
Median gross rent	$1,981	$1,945
Climate risk (FEMA)	Relatively Moderate	Very High

It's a split decision on housing: Boston, MA wins on home value, Seattle, WA wins on rent. Neither comes out ahead on both.

Moving between Boston and Seattle

Boston and Seattle are 2,489 miles apart in a straight line.

What changes when you move	Boston → Seattle	Seattle → Boston
Median rent	−$36/mo (−2%)	+$36/mo (+2%)
Median home value	+$195,000 (+28%)	−$195,000 (−22%)
Median household income	+$26,856 (+30%)	−$26,856 (−23%)

Estimated moving cost (either direction)

Home size	Estimated cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	$2,869 – $4,608
2-3 bedroom	$6,065 – $9,670
4+ bedroom house	$9,774 – $15,530

Estimates based on typical per-mile and per-room moving-industry rates; actual quotes vary by mover, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Boston, MA Seattle, WA

2,862 miles estimated driving distance · 47.7 hours of highway driving

DIY Truck Rental

$3,607 – $4,592

Includes an estimated $1,002 in fuel (286 gal at ~10 mpg) over 6 driving days.

Professional Movers

$12,527 – $23,619

Full-service crew, loading and unloading included.

Estimates based on typical rental-truck, fuel, and professional-mover industry rates; actual quotes vary by carrier, season, and access. Not a quote from any specific company.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey; FEMA National Risk Index

Data last updated July 2026.