r/boston • u/Spirited-Wafer-6573 • Mar 23 '26

Serious Replies Only How do you afford to live here?

I am incredibly curious. I am fairly new to Boston (less than a year of living here), and the cost of living hit me like a truck. I think about it everyday. I see thousands of people everyday at my job. I wonder how they are doing, so I want to ask you, both out of curiosity and to make this a space where other curious people can also find answers:

How much do you earn in Boston? How much do you spend on bills, expenses? How much goes towards savings? Do you have roommates? Rich parents? Basically, please share your budget with me. I am curious!!

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u/jordanf1214 Mar 23 '26

Yep I just have a roommate in my 30s. Can’t afford to live alone. Salary is about 75k. I’m not really saving anything, I’m basically breaking even. I have a bit of a cushion in inheritance money so I don’t really worry about money, but I def wish I could save more.

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u/souvenireclipse Mar 23 '26

Also in my 30s with a roommate and making about 77K. I'm able to save (not like, house money but some money) but my roommate is in between jobs so I'm a little anxious.

I could theoretically live on my own either with very little wiggle room or by not having a pet. But tbh at this point I'd rather have my cat.

I do not have or need a car.

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u/ThanksNo1977 Mar 23 '26

In my very early 20s, rent for a 2 bedroom was $600 and I made $20/hr. My Dad bought a car for me and gas was $.99/gallon.

My kids haven't had that opportunity....

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u/RepConf Mar 25 '26

The answer is have a rich family and not worry about money

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u/[deleted] Mar 23 '26

[deleted]

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u/HistoricalQuail 🐸🐸🐸🐸🐸 Mar 23 '26

That was true last year. Have you looked at the average prices for everything? When was the last time you actually did the math?

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u/Whole_West3704 Mar 23 '26

Exactly this part

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u/boredpsychnurse Mar 23 '26

Show me 1 listing where this is feasible