Watch CBS News

Here's How Much Income You Need To Afford Rent In Boston

BOSTON (CBS) – Looking to rent in Boston? It helps if you're bringing home a six-figure salary, according to a new analysis.

SmartAsset, a personal finance company, ranks Boston as the fourth-most expensive place to rent in the country. They calculate that in order to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the city, a household should be making at least $120,900 a year.

The average Boston apartment costs $2,821 a month, SmartAsset determined. A 28 percent rent-to-income ratio was used to come up with a corresponding yearly salary.

If that's out of your price range, SmartAsset recommends looking to nearby cities like Lowell, where an income of only $59,143 is needed to make rent comfortably.

As expensive as Boston seems, it's nothing compared to San Francisco, which takes the top spot for pricey rental cities. A yearly income of $216,129 is needed to afford an apartment there.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.