> I'd agree compared to many places, but Boston is hardly cheaper than the Valley! It's cheaper than SF, but more expensive than Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara, etc. At least as far as apartment rentals go; I haven't looked at how purchasing a house would compare.
The costs drop precipitously when you aren't trying to live in Cambridge or in downtown Boston. I live fifteen minutes by train from downtown and 30 by train from Cambridge. I pay $1550 a month for a 1300-sq-ft 2-bedroom--I WFH so I needed an office, otherwise it'd be $1200 for a 1-bedroom.
Plus there's Allston/Brighton, which are part of Boston but priced pretty reasonably.
The costs drop precipitously when you aren't trying to live in Cambridge or in downtown Boston. I live fifteen minutes by train from downtown and 30 by train from Cambridge. I pay $1550 a month for a 1300-sq-ft 2-bedroom--I WFH so I needed an office, otherwise it'd be $1200 for a 1-bedroom.
Plus there's Allston/Brighton, which are part of Boston but priced pretty reasonably.