Rent affordability · Boston
Can I afford $1,750/month rent in Boston?
$1,750/month puts you in the top 89% of renters in Boston by rent amount — $1,150 below the city median ($2,900).
Salary you need to afford this
Based on gross annual salary. The 30% rule (manageable threshold) is the most widely used benchmark — it means $1,750/month consumes exactly 30% of your monthly income.
How this compares in Boston
$1,700
Budget rent
P10
$2,900
Typical rent
median
$4,800
High-end rent
P90
People in Boston typically spend 25–45% of their gross income on rent. The median renter spends 34%.
Data confidence: medium · US Census ACS 2023 + Greater Boston Housing Report Card · 2023–2024
Frequently asked questions
Can I afford $1,750/month rent in Boston?
Whether you can afford $1,750/month in Boston depends on your salary. At the standard 30% rule, you need at least $70,000/year gross. At a stricter 25% threshold, you need $84,000/year. $1,750/month is below the city median — 11% of renters in Boston pay less.
What salary do I need to afford $1,750 rent in Boston?
To afford $1,750/month without spending more than 30% of gross income on rent, you need at least $70,000/year. For a more comfortable 25% target, the threshold rises to $84,000/year. At 35% — considered financially stretched — the minimum falls to $60,000/year.
Is $1,750/month rent expensive in Boston?
$1,750/month is $1,150 below the city median. 11% of renters in Boston pay less than this amount. Rent across Boston ranges from roughly $1,700 (cheapest 10%) to $4,800 (top 10%).
Other rent amounts in Boston