Personal experience. How much is life in Boston

Living in Boston is expensive: we rented a room near Harvard for $700. Photo: Anna Chaika

For several years now I have been living in a country that was the subject of dreams for me and my husband. When we were still students, we clearly understood that we only see our future in America and, having sacrificed much, almost ten years later we still moved here and now call this country our home. Such a desirable, but at the same time terrible and incomprehensible, became our own and ours.

America turned different sides towards us, but, oddly enough, it was precisely that American optimism that we quickly adopted from the locals that helped us. And in general, after a fairly short time, we realized that the main thing here is a smile, optimism and recommendations.

Upon arrival, in order not to experience any cultural or economic shock, we decided not to compare anything with the Motherland. Immediately rebuilt and began to live. Other housing and corresponding prices for it, other transport, a different quality of life. Different taste from food, vegetables and fruits. People are not strange, but just different.

At first, of course, it was scary, but only from misunderstanding. We had a lot of questions that had to look for answers on our own. Over time, everything became commonplace, everyday worries dragged on, and we just stopped paying attention to something that once seemed incomprehensible.

Of course, it is stupid to compare the first months in Massachusetts and today - life has qualitatively improved in proportion to our income.

Rent

The lion's share of the budget, of course, goes to housing. We live 30 minutes from Boston, in a favorable area by local standards. Lots of hospitals, good schools, low crime. At one time we lived in Boston itself, not far from Harvard, where we rented a room in a house for $700.

Then there was a very small studio for 1050 $ per month (including gas and electricity). They regularly paid, complied with all the rules of the contract and, as it turned out, were in good standing with the landlord. So, when it came time to increase the living space, our landlord offered for almost the same money a one-bedroom apartment with atypical ceilings, huge windows, bas-reliefs on the ceiling and a fireplace that are not typical for America.

Here is a view of the 12 minutes from our house. Photo: Anna Chaika

In general, we love Boston for the fact that every street, every corner of this city is literally saturated with history. But despite the fact that we moved to the suburbs, our house does not allow us to forget where we live.

Monthly expenses:

Rent - 1200 $

Payment for gas is on average about $600 per year, $50 per month,

Light - $40.

Transport

In America, it is impossible to live without a car? Maybe. But only if you live in a big city.

The first six months, living near Harvard, we did not even think that we needed a car. Metro, buses, Uber. Having moved to the suburbs, we realized that the entire infrastructure was built there, based on the fact that every resident has a car. Rare pedestrian crossings, narrow sidewalks or their complete absence drove us into shock.

To get to the store is a 50-minute walk, to the gym is 40, and to get to Boston is 40 minutes by bus and 25 by subway.

We urgently needed a car. I really didn’t want to burden myself with a loan or leasing (to admit, I was just afraid). By that time we already had some savings and, after weighing all the pros and cons, we decided that we would buy a car that we could afford (not a new one).

Fortunately, we have a friend, an auto mechanic, who offered to come to him (in another state) and together choose a car from a friend’s dealer.

Central Boston. Photo: Anna Chaika

A week remained before departure, when suddenly we decided not to deny ourselves a fair amount of the pleasure of finding a car. Tesla, Lexus, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Lincoln - It’s not clear why, but we decided to go through the showrooms with brand new cars.

The cars sparkled in the sun, the leather interiors literally caressed you, and the dealers sang sweetly. This was our big mistake, because one night we couldn’t sleep a wink, thinking about why not lease a car. But common sense prevailed - we flew to Buffalo to pick up our car.

After seeing a few dozen cars in the dealershop, our friend provided a choice of three: Cadillac, BMW and Ford.

Like Ilf and Petrov, we opted for Ford, but they bought it new, and we almost ... Its previous owners were an elderly couple who, judging by the speedometer, and by car itself, drove it to the store and back. Even before the purchase, we decided that we would definitely change the brakes, but a friend assured us that the car was in perfect condition and did not need repairs or replacements.

More than a year has passed and, fortunately, we have never doubted our choice. Our expenses per month:

Gasoline - $120

Insurance - $200

Washing - $30 (2 times a month).

Food

The main source of products is the Haymarket in the very center of Boston. Harmonious and contrasting - a street market in the middle of skyscrapers.

The Hay Market in Boston is a street market in the middle of skyscrapers. Photo: Anna Chaika

It works only two days a week - on Friday and Saturday, and for this they even close two city streets. We started going there because of the prices, the products are the same as in supermarkets, but the prices are much lower. Now we go there for the atmosphere, people and, of course, what to lie, low prices.

We have “our own” people there who choose only the freshest, most delicious and, what is especially important here, high-quality vegetables and fruits. We are constantly pampered with something tasty, given discounts or just given a kilogram or two of fruit.

But I couldn’t go to the market quickly even once I discussed the latest news: starting from politics, ending with the Nobel Prize, telling how the week went, discussing the last NFL game, visiting dissatisfied people. You should also try the oysters and bargain for a piece of fish. So, on average, a trip to the market takes about three hours.

Weekly supply of vegetables and fruits. Spent 28 $. Photo: Anna Chaika

By the way, it is useful to know:

Each seller at the market has a special seal, thanks to which you can significantly save on parking. So, ten meters from the market there is a three-story parking lot, where half an hour costs 6 $, with this stamp 2 hours will cost only 1 $, 3 hours - 2 $.

Also once a week we go to the wholesale network store: we buy meat, fish, seafood, cheeses, yoghurts, nuts, dried fruits. Here we do not save much on products. Well, a bottle of red dry wine at the end of the week is the place to be.

We also have guests coming to us very often, so I note that we buy a lot of meat and vegetables. The grill is the head of everything.

Monthly expenses:

Vegetables and fruits at the market - $120 (including parking),

In the supermarket - about $250.

Also, cat food costs us $20, since we rarely give it - a small pack is enough for a month. And so the cat eats what we do - meat, milk, vegetables.

Hay Market in Boston. Photo: Anna Chaika

Internet and mobile services

When we first arrived, out of ignorance we signed a rather expensive contract for mobile communications, a year later we switched to a new operator - unlimited calls and Internet cost us only $80 per month for two (family package). Internet is the simplest - $40 + monthly router rental - $10.

Wash

Unfortunately, we do our laundry at the laundromat. It’s like a developed unconditioned reflex - collecting 25-cent coins for laundry.

5 dollars for washing itself, plus 3 for drying.

Total: 40 $ per month.

Entertainment

After many unsuccessful attempts to pay for our entertainment, one simple truth has reached us - it is blasphemy to pay for your leisure time, living 12 minutes from the ocean. So it’s not hard to guess how we spend our free time.

In general, the main expense is gasoline. We can sit down to breakfast on a Saturday morning with plans to lounge around the house all day, and then two hours later stand over a cliff with friends in another state. We can spend the whole day looking for a lighthouse or reading about some historical city on the Internet, and the next day we can walk along its streets. We don’t spend money on food, we take everything with us.

I can’t help but note the beginning of the football season - my husband spends about $30-50 a week on beer in an Irish pub. This is sacred.

Other expenses

Clothes and shoes are bought on a whim; there is no strict pattern at all. And rather it depends on discounts: we buy jackets in the summer, dresses in the winter. Most often we buy at online outlets or at the nearest TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Also here you can add products for home, bathroom. On average, about 2000-3000 $ (250 $ per month) is released per year.

About $110 is spent on cosmetics and care per month (female expenses), and $10 for husbands.

For household chemicals and kitchen utensils - about $15 per month (thanks Dollar Tree).

Medical insurance

We chose the cheapest insurance, taking into account the fact that we have a medical education, we can provide medical care and prescribe treatment for ourselves. Fortunately, during the entire time we lived in America, we never encountered any emergency situations, but we still did not refuse insurance. 70% is paid by my husband’s work, the remaining 30% is paid by us.

Total - $50 per month.

Gym

The nearest room from the house was also the cheapest. While living in Boston, we paid 60 $ per month, after moving to the suburbs, the cost of sports was reduced by exactly 50 dollars.

Yes, now we pay only 10 $ per month. Of course, without a pool and a sauna, but this has never been the time and effort. Therefore, we do not particularly notice the absence.

Comfort in America is not at all a sign of luxury.

In a month we have about 2815 $. Pretty good. I can not say that we greatly save or deny ourselves something.

We live comfortably. Ilf and Petrov noted well: “Comfort in America is not at all a sign of luxury. It is standard and affordable. ” Fortunately, much is available to us.

All that we have left, we save for exams to confirm our diplomas. Also a significant proportion is occupied by textbooks and manuals for preparing for tests and Our passion is travel.

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