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Boston vs Riverside: prices, pay and housing
| Boston, MA | Riverside, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| BEA price parity (U.S. = 100) | 108.3 | 106.4 |
| Average salary, all jobs | $89,620 | $65,160 |
| Median salary, all jobs | $66,620 | $48,400 |
| Average salary adjusted for prices | $82,778 | $61,216 |
| Take-home on the average salary* | $67,717 | $52,396 |
| Typical home value | $741,868 | $585,378 |
| Median household income | $112,484 | $86,031 |
| Home price / household income | 6.6 | 6.8 |
| Metro population | 4,917,661 | 4,637,725 |
*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 Riverside
To keep the same standard of living when moving from Boston to Riverside, multiply your salary by 0.983.
| Salary in Boston | Same buying power in Riverside |
|---|---|
| $50,000 in Boston | $49,158 in Riverside |
| $75,000 in Boston | $73,736 in Riverside |
| $100,000 in Boston | $98,315 in Riverside |
| $150,000 in Boston | $147,473 in Riverside |
| $200,000 in Boston | $196,631 in Riverside |
Salaries for common jobs in Boston and Riverside
| Job | Boston | Riverside | Adjusted for prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $42,240 | $35,430 | $39,015 / $33,286 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,620 | $43,350 | $37,519 / $40,726 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,500 | $46,160 | $42,950 / $43,366 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $36,230 | $41,250 | $33,464 / $38,753 |
| Retail Salespersons | $40,320 | $41,230 | $37,242 / $38,735 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,420 | $64,130 | $59,502 / $60,249 |
| Cashiers | $37,260 | $38,650 | $34,415 / $36,311 |
| Registered Nurses | $121,820 | $136,670 | $112,519 / $128,399 |
| Office Clerks, General | $52,880 | $48,180 | $48,843 / $45,264 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $50,820 | $49,840 | $46,940 / $46,824 |
| General and Operations Managers | $163,800 | $126,430 | $151,294 / $118,778 |
| Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary | $44,080 | $46,310 | $40,715 / $43,507 |
| Security Guards | $45,640 | $42,090 | $42,155 / $39,543 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $45,340 | $45,660 | $41,878 / $42,897 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $45,900 | $44,240 | $42,396 / $41,563 |
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Average salary vs. price-adjusted salary
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Boston vs Riverside: questions
Is Boston more expensive than Riverside?
Yes. BEA prices are 108.3 in Boston, MA and 106.4 in Riverside, CA (U.S. = 100).
What salary do I need in Riverside to match $100,000 in Boston?
About $98,315, before taxes.
Where do salaries go further, Boston or Riverside?
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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