Last updated
Average Rent in Boston, MA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 20 apartment communities in Boston, MA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,550/mo
Lowest Available
$1,544/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
20
tracked daily
Units Listed
331
available now
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →See current options while we confirm new price comparisons. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
Rent by Neighborhood in Boston, MA
Compare average rent across Boston, MA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Boston | $7,263 | ▲ $2,174 | $2,735 | 3 | 25 |
| Boston 02199 | $6,281 | - | $3,705 | 1 | 13 |
| West End | $4,628 | ▼ $353 | $1,544 | 2 | 28 |
| D Street / West Broadway | $4,451 | ▲ $57 | $2,822 | 9 | 166 |
| Chinatown | $4,306 | ▼ $13 | $3,410 | 2 | 26 |
| Brighton | $4,060 | ▲ $266 | $2,610 | 1 | 4 |
| Prudential / St. Botolph | $3,569 | ▼ $1,228 | $1,625 | 2 | 69 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Boston, MA?
As of October 2026, the average rent in Boston, MA is $4,550 per month across 20 apartment communities and 331 available units.
The most affordable option is The Victor by Windsor starting at $1,544/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $3,248/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $4,102/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $5,894/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $4,962/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $3,264/mo, a 5-bedroom averages $3,099/mo.
Prices range from $1,544 to $14,886 per month. The most common price point is the $3,400 range, where 33 units are currently listed.
Boston, MA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | $4,454 | - | 9 |
| May 2026 | $4,521 | +$67 | 21 |
| June 2026 | $4,675 | +$154 | 22 |
| July 2026 | $4,725 | +$50 | 28 |
| August 2026 | $4,660 | -$65 | 29 |
| September 2026 | $4,675 | +$15 | 29 |
| October 2026 | $4,623 | -$52 | 26 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Victor by Windsor | $1,544/mo | $4,022/mo | 18 | 4.8 |
| Boston Pads | $1,625/mo | $3,188/mo | 47 | 4.9 |
| Avalon Brighton | $2,610/mo | $4,060/mo | 4 | 3.9 |
| West Square Apartments | $2,735/mo | $3,337/mo | 3 | 3.4 |
| Flats on D | $2,822/mo | $4,026/mo | 13 | 4.4 |
| 381 Congress Lofts | $2,999/mo | $3,399/mo | 5 | 4.5 |
| Ora Seaport Apartments | $3,136/mo | $4,319/mo | 21 | 4.7 |
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
$182,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,550/mo.
Comfortable income
$218,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,544/mo), you need to earn at least $62,000/year.
Median household income in Boston, MA is $94,755 , about 57% 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) | $4,550 |
| Utilities | $637 |
| Groceries | $544 |
| Transportation | $1,520 |
| Healthcare | $741 |
| Other goods and services | $1,186 |
| Estimated total | $9,178/mo |
Population
663,972
Median household income
$94,755
Census median rent
$2,093/mo
Census rent burden
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.
Google Search Trends for Boston, MA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Boston, MA Apartments
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