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Rental Market Trends in Boston, MA

What is the average rent in Boston, MA?

$3,516/month

Average Rent

698 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.1%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Boston, MA is $3,516 per month. This is 114% higher than the national average rent price of $1,641/month, making Boston one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Boston, you can expect to pay about $2,890 per month for a studio, $3,516 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $4,450 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $5,791 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,890/month
478 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,516/month
698 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$4,450/month
973 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$5,791/month
1,212 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,674/month
381 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,282/month
384 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,247/month
985 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$7,308/month
2,424 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,972/month
2,386 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,676/month
2,865 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,329/month
3,158 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$5,138/month
3,182 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,140/month
697 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,597/month
1,374 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,452/month
2,363 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$6,002/month
2,994 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Boston, MA?

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.1%, which averages out to $3 less per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Boston, MA
Last Updated April 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Boston, MA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
0% $700 - $1,000/month
4% $1,001 - $1,500/month
6% $1,501 - $2,000/month
90% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Boston?

Based on current rent prices, Sav-Mor, Eagle Hill and Dudley-Brunswick King are the most affordable neighborhoods in Boston.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Sav-Mor
$2,151/month
5,370 Sq Ft
Eagle Hill
$2,173/month
2,199 Sq Ft
Dudley-Brunswick King
$2,181/month
4,335 Sq Ft
Southern Mattapan
$2,276/month
705 Sq Ft
Washington Park
$2,286/month
3,911 Sq Ft
West Street-River Street
$2,313/month
782 Sq Ft
Lower Roxbury
$2,380/month
5,025 Sq Ft
Metropolitan Hill-Beech St
$2,385/month
1,329 Sq Ft
Neponset-Port Norfolk
$2,434/month
626 Sq Ft
West Codman Hill-West Lower Mills
$2,539/month
2,991 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston?

Based on current rent prices, Waterfront, Seaport and Bay Village are the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Waterfront
$4,564/month
858 Sq Ft
Seaport
$4,442/month
766 Sq Ft
Bay Village
$4,303/month
2,377 Sq Ft
Fort Point
$4,290/month
687 Sq Ft
North Station
$4,023/month
1,023 Sq Ft
Leather District
$3,914/month
1,510 Sq Ft
Chinatown
$3,889/month
1,176 Sq Ft
Boston Common
$3,821/month
873 Sq Ft
Financial District
$3,690/month
1,487 Sq Ft
North Allston
$3,660/month
1,161 Sq Ft

Which Boston neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Boston with the most apartments available are Fenway, West End Boston and Commonwealth .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Fenway
$3,256/month
1,916 Sq Ft
West End Boston
$3,619/month
1,946 Sq Ft
Commonwealth
$2,664/month
3,212 Sq Ft
Downtown Boston
$3,537/month
2,292 Sq Ft
Back Bay
$3,399/month
2,887 Sq Ft
St Elizabeth's
$2,707/month
3,028 Sq Ft
South End Boston
$3,511/month
2,111 Sq Ft
North Allston
$3,660/month
1,161 Sq Ft
Oak Square
$2,897/month
3,348 Sq Ft
Financial District
$3,690/month
1,487 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Boston, MA?

Because the average rent in Boston is $3,516, you’ll want to make about $11,720 per month or $140,640 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Boston, MA is 48.4% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Boston is 121.2% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $2,890 - $5,791. You can expect to pay 2.9% more for groceries, 54.0% more for utilities, and 4.8% more for transportation.

City

Boston, MA

36,357 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Boston, MA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Boston, MA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Boston, MA

Apartment Averages

Sav-Mor

Boston, MA

Waterfront

Boston, MA

Studio
$1,293/month
$3,619/month
One Bedroom
$1,731/month
$6,061/month
Two Bedroom
$2,196/month
$6,370/month
Three Bedroom
$2,080/month
-
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Dorchester Average Rent
  • South Boston Average Rent
  • Roxbury Average Rent
  • Roxbury Crossing Average Rent
  • North Quincy Average Rent
  • Mattapan Average Rent
  • Jamaica Plain Average Rent

Apartment communities in Boston we think you'll love

Imprint

Imprint

780 William T Morrissey Blvd,
Boston, MA 02122

$2,249 - $2,699 Plus Fees

Studio - 2 Beds

Harbor Point

Harbor Point

24 Oyster Bay Rd,
Boston, MA 02125

$2,402 - $4,616 Total Monthly Price

1-3 Beds

The Franklin at Hancock Village

The Franklin at Hancock Village

201 Sherman Rd,
Brookline, MA 02467

$3,295 - $9,655 Plus Fees

1-3 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Baker Chocolate Factory

Baker Chocolate Factory

1200-1220 Adams St,
Dorchester, MA 02124

$2,361 - $3,850 Plus Fees

Studio - 2 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Property Management Companies in Boston, MA

Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,494

    Communities

  • 960,829

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

27 Communities in Boston
Bozzuto
Bozzuto
  • 386

    Communities

  • 118,848

    Units

  • 157

    Cities

14 Communities in Boston
Equity Residential
Equity Residential
  • 156

    Communities

  • 51,702

    Units

  • 72

    Cities

13 Communities in Boston
The Wingate Companies
The Wingate Companies
  • 50

    Communities

  • 8,337

    Units

  • 36

    Cities

12 Communities in Boston
The Hamilton Company
The Hamilton Company
  • 22

    Communities

  • 3,252

    Units

  • 12

    Cities

12 Communities in Boston
Winn Companies
Winn Companies
  • 157

    Communities

  • 27,182

    Units

  • 112

    Cities

11 Communities in Boston
John M Corcoran & Co
John M Corcoran & Co
  • 55

    Communities

  • 10,972

    Units

  • 40

    Cities

11 Communities in Boston
The Copley Group
The Copley Group
  • 12

    Communities

  • 585

    Units

  • 3

    Cities

11 Communities in Boston

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United States Massachusetts Boston Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity