| Index | Brookline | Massachusetts | National |
| Cost of living | 219 | 131 | 100 |
| Groceries | 111 | 109 | 100 |
| Health care | 116 | 116 | 100 |
| Housing | 459 | 169 | 100 |
| Transportation | 117 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 117 | 100 |
| Lifestyle & Entertainment | 121 | 115 | 100 |
| Household Items | 109 | 109 | 100 |
| Education & Childcare | 126 | 127 | 100 |
The cost of living in Brookline affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Brookline is 219, which is 119% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.
If affordability is among your top priorities when searching for a new place to live, this area may not be the ideal fit, as the cost of living in Brookline is among the most expensive in the United States. Just a minority of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Brookline falls into this category, which may not align with your goal of finding a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs are a very significant part of the Brookline cost of living index and generally encompass a large percentage of take-home income. Unfortunately, in this area, the housing costs for both homes and rentals were 358.7% more than the average city. This includes things like home and rent prices, mortgage rates and insurance.
The relentless increase in grocery prices is a noteworthy trend. In the last two years, grocery costs have experienced an upward trajectory of over 10%. Unfortunately, Brookline is no exception, where grocery prices are 11.3% above the national average.
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 9 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Brookline. The feedback revealed that 22% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 78% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Brookline an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Brookline, the median home price is 453% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 138.9% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Brookline come in at $171,469, which is 110.8% higher than the national average.
Subsidies: Certain regions may provide government subsidies or assistance initiatives designed to alleviate the cost of living burden on their residents. These programs encompass a wide range of support mechanisms, such as Medicare, Medicaid, housing subsidies, low-income home energy assistance programs, school lunch programs, supplemental nutrition assistance programs, student loans, electric vehicle tax credits, affordable care act subsidies and farming subsidies. Areas with fewer subsidy offerings might experience an elevation in their cost of living.
Groceries: Grocery expenditures have undergone notable escalation over the last 2-3 years. In some markets, the cost of food products has surged by more than 20%, while others have experienced only modest increments. These fluctuations in food costs can have a significant impact on the overall cost of living in any region. In Brookline, the groceries index registers 11.3% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that enforce higher taxes, covering both sales taxes and income taxes, can be a factor contributing to a higher cost of living. Paying more in taxes for everyday essentials like clothing and food inevitably leads to higher expenses. A higher income tax rate can further contribute to an overall elevated cost of living. In Brookline, the baseline sales tax rate begins at 6.25%, and income tax rates start at 5%.
The cost of living estimates displayed for Brookline are modeled using a U.S. average baseline of 100, helping provide a useful comparison of local living expenses. Housing calculations include U.S. Census home price and rental data, while all other values are AI-assisted estimates based on regional cost patterns, climate, transportation, and everyday spending expectations. These values are intended for directional comparisons across cities.
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| Educare index |
| Median Income | Per Year | Per Month | Max Budget (28% DTI) | Max Budget (36% DTI) |
| Owners | $258,013 | $21,501 | $6,020 | $7,741 |
| Renters | $128,846 | $10,737 | $3,006 | $3,866 |
| State | General Sales Tax | With Max Surtax |
| Massachusetts | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| State | Income Tax (Low) | Income Tax (High) |
| Massachusetts | 5% | 9% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Southfield, MA | 0 | 115 | 14.6% |
| Randolph, MA | 34,560 | 123 | 23.3% |
| Holbrook, MA | 11,361 | 128 | 28.4% |
| Lynn, MA | 97,235 | 134 | 34.4% |
| Salem, MA | 44,881 | 135 | 35.3% |
| Brookline, MA | 60,923 | 219 | 118.7% |
| City | Population | Cost of Living Index | National Avg. |
| Vineland, NJ | 60,891 | 108 | 8.0% |
| St. Clair Shores, MI | 60,856 | 94 | 6.0% |
| Fountainebleau, FL | 60,828 | 114 | 13.9% |
| Porterville, CA | 61,051 | 112 | 11.7% |
| Aurora, ON | 61,058 | n/a | |
| Brookline, MA | 60,923 | 219 | 118.7% |
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