What is the cost of living in Brookline, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Brookline has an overall cost of living index of 221, which is 2.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Brookline has a cost of living index that's 1.7x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Brookline ranks as #112 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Brookline ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Brookline, check out:
Brookline Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Brookline. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Brookline is 109.
The Groceries index in Brookline is 115.
The Health index in Brookline is 460.
The Housing index in Brookline is 119.
The Transportation index in Brookline is 113.
The Utilities index in Brookline is 120.
| Living Expense | Brookline | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 221 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 460 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 119 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 120 | 114 | 100 |
Brookline Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Brookline, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Brookline is $1,211,600.
The Median Rent in Brookline is $2,835.
The Median Income in Brookline is $142,101.
The Home Value To Income in Brookline is 8.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Brookline is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Brookline | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,211,600 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,835 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $142,101 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.5x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Brookline, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Brookline Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Brookline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Brookline Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Brookline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Brookline Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Brookline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Brookline Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Brookline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Brookline Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Brookline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Brookline SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Brookline
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Brookline. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 171, 0.8x Brookline.
Cambridge, MA has a cost of living index of 204, 0.9x Brookline.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 0.9x Brookline.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 666,442 | 171 | 0.8x |
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 0.9x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 0.9x |
| Somerville, MA | 81,036 | 186 | 0.8x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.8x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 0.9x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 0.9x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.1x |
| Milton, MA | 28,587 | 168 | 0.8x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 0.9x |
