Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 10, 2026
Average rent in
Boston, MA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 10, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where Boston rent stands today
Boston, MA rent rose 2.9% year over year, with a current median of $3,395/month. Renters today are paying $93 more per month on average than last year, with rent at the peak level of $3,500/month in August 2026.
Compared to national trends
Boston runs roughly 1.76× the national median of $1,925/month, placing it among the priciest major coastal metros for renters. The city offers 7,630 total rentals, mostly apartments, across a competitive market.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios in Boston sit around $2,447/month, 1-bedrooms around $2,864/month, 2-bedrooms around $3,450/month, 3-bedrooms at $3,800/month, and 4+ bedrooms at $4,800/month. Apartments make up 76.4% of rentals, with houses renting at a median of $3,800/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
Georgetown rents fell 22.8% year over year to $2,450/month across 11 rentals, marking a notable local cooldown compared to the citywide 2.9% rise. Jamaica Central South Sumner and Medford Street The Neck also saw declines of 16.8% and 14.8%, respectively.
Median rent
Median rent in Boston
$3,395/mo
3%vs previous year
The average rent in Boston is $3,395 per month as of August 2026. This is 76% above the national average rent, or $1,470 more per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Boston
7,630
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Boston rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Boston, MA
Average rent prices in Boston have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 3% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Boston, MA
Rent prices in Boston vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Boston is $3,350, whereas a house costs $3,800. 1-bedroom apartments in Boston run $2,915 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $3,500.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $2,447 | 3% | 1% | |
1 bedroom | $2,864 | 2% | 3% | |
2 bedroom | $3,450 | No Change | No Change | |
3 bedroom | $3,800 | No Change | 2% | |
4 bedroom | $4,800 | No Change | 6% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Back Bay | $3,600 | |
Commonwealth | $3,000 | |
D Street West Broadway | $3,923 | |
Downtown Boston | $4,202 | |
Fenway Kenmore Audubon Circle Longwood | $3,185 | |
Mission Hill | $3,600 | |
North Allston | $3,750 | |
Oak Square | $3,500 | |
South End | $3,769 | |
St Elizabeth's | $2,904 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $3,350 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $3,700 | No Change | No Change | |
Houses | $3,800 |  1% | No Change | |
Rooms | $1,300 | 6% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$2,447
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
1%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$2,864
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
3%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$3,450
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
No Change
3 bedroom
Average rent
$3,800
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
2%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$4,800
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
6%
Commonwealth
Average rent
$3,000
Fenway Kenmore Audubon Circle Longwood
Average rent
$3,185
St Elizabeth's
Average rent
$2,904
Mission Hill
Average rent
$3,600
Oak Square
Average rent
$3,500
Back Bay
Average rent
$3,600
Downtown Boston
Average rent
$4,202
D Street West Broadway
Average rent
$3,923
North Allston
Average rent
$3,750
South End
Average rent
$3,769
Apartments
Average rent
$3,350
Last 30 days
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$3,700
Last 30 days
No Change
Houses
Average rent
$3,800
Last 30 days
1%
Rooms
Average rent
$1,300
Last 30 days
6%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Boston, MA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Boston, MA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Boston and Brockton by all bedroom counts and property types.
Boston
76%higher than the national median
12%higher than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Boston, MA is 58% higher than the median rent in Brockton, MA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
Cost of living in Boston, MA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 17% higher |
| Groceries | 4% higher |
| Health | 33% higher |
| Housing | 121% higher |
| Transportation | 5% higher |
| Utilities | 51% higher |
Discover rentals in Boston, MA
2d ago
7-9-9R Winship, Boston, MA 02135
Studio
-1 baths
$200
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
3d ago
1 bed
1 bath
$800–$850
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Jamaica Central - South Sumner condo for rent in Boston
Studio
2 baths
$800
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease. Fees may apply.Condo for rent
Available Apr 13
5d+ ago
Franklin Field North apartment for rent in Boston
88 Bernard St #ROOM, Boston, MA 02124
1 bed
1 bath
$800
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Chinatown - Leather District apartment for rent in Boston
2 Avery St #PH3C, Boston, MA 02111
3 beds
3.5 baths
$45,000
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
Available Sep 1
5h ago
Verified
139 Washington St, Boston, MA 02135
Studio–3 beds
1–3 baths
$3,005–$5,940
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
77 Exeter St, Boston, MA 02116
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,535–$12,570
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
North End condo for rent in Boston
4 beds
3.5 baths
$16,500
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease. Fees may apply.Condo for rent
7h ago
Verified
250 1st Ave, Boston, MA 02129
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,013–$7,753
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
12h ago
Verified
8 Whittier Pl, Boston, MA 02114
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$2,690–$15,560
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
1555 Vfw Pkwy, Boston, MA 02132
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,518–$6,621
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
899 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,292–$18,300
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
2d ago
Verified
899 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210
Studio–3 beds
1–2 baths
$3,292–$18,300
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
1h ago
Verified
30 Rockingham Ave, Boston, MA 02132
1–2 beds
1 bath
$2,545–$3,350
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
1h ago
Verified
65 Brainerd Rd, Boston, MA 02134
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,504–$14,782
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
390 Blue Ledge Dr, Boston, MA 02131
Studio–3 beds
1 bath
$1,875–$4,714
Price drop
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 10
7h ago
Verified
250 1st Ave, Boston, MA 02129
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$3,013–$7,753
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
13h ago
Verified
1555 Vfw Pkwy, Boston, MA 02132
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,518–$6,621
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
1h ago
Verified
65 Brainerd Rd, Boston, MA 02134
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$2,504–$14,782
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
3h ago
Verified
18 Haviland St, Boston, MA 02115
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$2,625–$4,963
The price shown reflects a 12-month lease and includes base rent plus all required monthly fees provided by the property.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 10
Stay up to date with rental market insights
Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.
Frequently asked questions for Boston, MA
Quick answers to common questions about the Boston rental market.
How much is rent in Boston?
The average rent in Boston is $3,395 per month as of August 8, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Boston?
Average rent prices in Boston have increased by 1% over the last month and have increased by 3% since last year.
How does Boston rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Boston is 76% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $1,470 more per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Boston?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Boston are St Elizabeth's ($2,904/mo), Commonwealth ($3,000/mo), and Fenway Kenmore Audubon Circle Longwood ($3,185/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Boston?
To comfortably afford rent in Boston, you'd need to earn approximately $136,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Boston?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in Boston average around $2,910/month and two-bedrooms approximately $3,470/month.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).
For additional insights into rental trends, including month-over-month changes and historical comparisons, see Zumper's Monthly Metro Report.
Boston Metro Report
The Zumper Boston Metro Report analyzed active listings last month across metro cities to show the most and least expensive cities and cities with the fastest growing rents. The Massachusetts one bedroom median rent was $2,299 last month.
The Most Expensive
- Cambridge ranked as the most expensive city with one-bedrooms priced at $3,080.
- Brookline was the second priciest with rent at $3,030.
- Boston placed as third with rent at $2,900.
The Least Expensive
- Fitchburg was the most affordable city with one-bedrooms priced at $1,530.
- Lawrence ranked as the second least expensive with rent at $1,570.
- Leominster placed third with rent at $1,600.
The Fastest Growing (Y/Y%)
- Everett had the fastest growing rent, up 14.2% since this time last year.
- Somerville was second with rent climbing 12.1%.
- Fitchburg placed third with rent increasing 9.3%.
The Fastest Growing (M/M%)
About
The Zumper Boston Metro Area Report analyzed active listings that hit the market last month. Listings are aggregated by city to calculate median asking rents.
Words by
Crystal ChenCrystal Chen is a seasoned real estate and housing market expert with more than a decade of experience analyzing rental trends, housing affordability, and urban living. At Zumper, she leads data storytelling as well as press and media relations, where she translates complex housing research into easily digestible insights for renters, industry professionals, and journalists. Her reports can be seen cited in national outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC. She is passionate about helping renters navigate today’s evolving housing landscape with clarity and confidence. Living in New York City herself, she knows firsthand the chaos and challenges of navigating a competitive rental market.