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Boston vs Detroit: prices, pay and housing
| Boston, MA | Detroit, MI | |
|---|---|---|
| BEA price parity (U.S. = 100) | 108.3 | 100.3 |
| Average salary, all jobs | $89,620 | $69,210 |
| Median salary, all jobs | $66,620 | $52,080 |
| Average salary adjusted for prices | $82,778 | $69,004 |
| Take-home on the average salary* | $67,717 | $53,302 |
| Typical home value | $741,868 | $269,080 |
| Median household income | $112,484 | $75,123 |
| Home price / household income | 6.6 | 3.6 |
| Metro population | 4,917,661 | 4,367,620 |
*Single filer, federal and state income tax and FICA (2026 rules); city income taxes included where we model them.
Compare with another city or state
Equivalent salary: Boston to Detroit
To keep the same standard of living when moving from Boston to Detroit, multiply your salary by 0.926.
| Salary in Boston | Same buying power in Detroit |
|---|---|
| $50,000 in Boston | $46,320 in Detroit |
| $75,000 in Boston | $69,480 in Detroit |
| $100,000 in Boston | $92,640 in Detroit |
| $150,000 in Boston | $138,961 in Detroit |
| $200,000 in Boston | $185,281 in Detroit |
Salaries for common jobs in Boston and Detroit
| Job | Boston | Detroit | Adjusted for prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | $49,500 | $56,600 | $45,721 / $56,432 |
| Retail Salespersons | $40,320 | $39,030 | $37,242 / $38,914 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $42,240 | $34,830 | $39,015 / $34,727 |
| Registered Nurses | $121,820 | $95,460 | $112,519 / $95,176 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,230 | $30,860 | $33,464 / $30,768 |
| Cashiers | $37,260 | $32,050 | $34,415 / $31,955 |
| General and Operations Managers | $163,800 | $133,060 | $151,294 / $132,665 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,620 | $39,120 | $37,519 / $39,004 |
| Office Clerks, General | $52,880 | $47,000 | $48,843 / $46,860 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,500 | $43,010 | $42,950 / $42,882 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $53,740 | $46,370 | $49,637 / $46,232 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,340 | $45,080 | $41,878 / $44,946 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $45,900 | $37,780 | $42,396 / $37,668 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,420 | $58,070 | $59,502 / $57,897 |
| Software Developers | $162,440 | $128,200 | $150,038 / $127,819 |
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary
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Boston vs Detroit: questions
Is Boston more expensive than Detroit?
Yes. BEA prices are 108.3 in Boston, MA and 100.3 in Detroit, MI (U.S. = 100).
What salary do I need in Detroit to match $100,000 in Boston?
About $92,640, before taxes.
Where do salaries go further, Boston or Detroit?
Boston, MA: once prices are counted, its average salary buys more.
Sources and how to read this page
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas.
- Home values: Zillow Home Value Index; income and population: Census ACS 5-year 2023.
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