Is $117,000 a good salary in Massachusetts?

$117,000 in Massachusetts provides a monthly take-home of approximately $7,092 after taxes. Across major Massachusetts cities, this salary is rated very comfortable, with an average monthly surplus of $3,753.

What is the cost of living on $117,000 in Massachusetts?

The average monthly living cost across major Massachusetts cities is approximately $3,339 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $117,000 take-home pay of $7,092/month, you would have roughly $3,753/month remaining.

Living in Massachusetts · 2026

Is $117,000 enough to live in Massachusetts?

Single adult · MA · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Very comfortable

Monthly take-home

$7,092

Avg monthly expenses

$3,339

Avg monthly surplus

$3,753

Savings potential

~53%

After-tax take-home in Massachusetts

Gross salary$117,000

Federal income tax− $17,094

State income tax− $5,850

Social Security− $7,254

Medicare− $1,697

Annual take-home$85,105

Effective tax rate27.26%

How $117,000 feels in Massachusetts cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Boston

COL index: 1.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$2,900

Food

$682

Transport

$338

Utilities

$318

Healthcare

$386

Total: $4,624/mo

Surplus: $2,468/mo

Rent burden: 40.9% — High (35–50%)

Full Boston analysis →

Worcester

COL index: 1.28× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,800

Food

$550

Transport

$224

Utilities

$211

Healthcare

$256

Total: $3,041/mo

Surplus: $4,051/mo

Rent burden: 25.4% — Manageable (25–35%)

Full Worcester analysis →

Springfield

COL index: 0.88× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,000

Food

$396

Transport

$154

Utilities

$145

Healthcare

$176

Total: $1,871/mo

Surplus: $5,221/mo

Rent burden: 14.1% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Springfield analysis →

Cambridge

COL index: 1.93× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$3,100

Food

$726

Transport

$338

Utilities

$318

Healthcare

$386

Total: $4,868/mo

Surplus: $2,224/mo

Rent burden: 43.7% — High (35–50%)

Full Cambridge analysis →

Lowell

COL index: 1.23× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,700

Food

$519

Transport

$215

Utilities

$203

Healthcare

$246

Total: $2,883/mo

Surplus: $4,209/mo

Rent burden: 24.0% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Lowell analysis →

Brockton

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Very comfortable

Rent (1BR)

$1,600

Food

$506

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,744/mo

Surplus: $4,348/mo

Rent burden: 22.6% — Affordable (< 25%)

Full Brockton analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $7,092 ($85,104/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$3,546

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$2,128

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$1,418

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$42,552

Wants / year

$25,531

Savings / year

$17,021

Salary Intelligence

Below comfortable level in Boston

Rent would consume 41% of take-home income — above the 35% stress threshold. A higher salary or lower-cost housing is needed for financial stability in this city.

Lifestyle score: 4.4/10 (Fair)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $117,000 salary comfortably supports a fair single lifestyle in Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately $2,468/month (~35% of take-home) available for savings — meeting or exceeding the recommended 20% savings rate.

Purchasing Power

Boston's above-average cost of living (index: 1.93) means $117,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $60,622 in an average-cost US city, or $71,534 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$117,000 is 105% above the Massachusetts individual median of $57,200 and 109% above the US national individual median of $56,000. This is a top-quartile income in this state.

State individual median

$57,200

+105%

State household median

$96,505

+21%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

401(k) Age 50+ Catch-Up Contribution — Up to $2,775 additional tax savings (37% bracket)

$117,000 vs. Massachusetts income benchmarks

Individual median (Massachusetts)

$57,200

+105% vs. this salary

Household median (Massachusetts)

$96,505

+21% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Massachusetts

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.