7 tips to make moving to Boston easier

Undoubtedly, Boston is one of the most amazing cities to live in. It’s got it all from amazing historical sites to thriving nightlife. If you’ve decided that this is the city for you, here are seven tips to make moving to Boston easier, other than getting acquainted with the prominent Bostonian accent of course. Whether you’re coming here for school, work, or otherwise, see our advice below.

Scout the job market

Many people consider moving to Boston because of work, as some of the biggest companies in the world are represented in this Northeastern city. This means that salaries tend to be quite attractive, especially in Boston’s top three industries, namely tech, finance, and life sciences. Some of the biggest employers in the Greater Boston area include:

• Massachusetts General Hospital
• Roche Bros.
• Comcast
• Wayfair
• Kronos
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital
• Tufts Health Plan
• Hebrew SeniorLife
• Analog Devices

Thus, while there’s a lot on offer and Boston’s unemployment is among the lowest in the US, the market is extremely competitive. So, you need to do your research. And make sure that you don’t adopt a limiting mindset, like looking only at large and well-established companies. Startups often offer some outstanding salary and benefits packages, including stock options. Just consider how great things would be if you ended up working for and with stock options in a startup that skyrockets and becomes the next Google. Also, before accepting a position, make sure to research the average salary in Boston for your position. According to PayScale, the average paycheck is $71,287 per year, but you’ll need to dig deeper so you know what to expect for the particular job you’re applying to.

Figure out if you can afford to live in Boston

While not as expensive as other cities, such as San Francisco and New York, the cost of living in Boston is still pretty high seeing as it’s 48% higher than the US national average. So, when moving to Boston, you need to consider whether you can afford to live in this city first. According to GoBankingRates, you need to make $88,967 to live comfortably in Boston, of which $17,793 would be set aside for savings. Thus, even if you didn’t save any money, you’d still need to make around $71,000 to cover basic expenses and to have some disposable income to splurge a little.

Having this information will make moving to Boston easier because you won’t have to worry about whether or not the job you accepted will pay you enough to cover your basic costs. Plus, you’ll also know how much money you need to save up before moving so you’ll have something to live on until you get your first paycheck. Nothing can make relocating as stressful as having to worry about where you’ll get the money to pay for food or rent.

Choose the right neighborhood

Choosing the right neighborhood is important regardless of the city you are moving to, including Boston. However, you need to plan a little more carefully when moving to Boston because city streets are confusing and traffic congestion is a major issue. Thus, living as close to work as possible is often a good idea. There’s also the cost to consider. For example, in Beacon Hill, which is one of Boston’s most stunning neighborhoods, you can expect to pay around $3,000 per month to rent a two-bedroom apartment. On the other hand, if you go a little farther out into Boston’s suburbs, such as Worcester, you can find an apartment for as little as $1,500. However, you’ll have to be prepared to live surrounded by students, depending on the suburb you choose.

Choose your timing wisely

Boston has a lot of universities, which means that you really don’t want to be moving to Boston any time around the end of August and the beginning of September as this is when all the college students are moving back into the city. It will make finding a place to live more difficult, and the actual move will be a massive pain because the city is so busy. During this time, it will be difficult to find an apartment to rent, but it will also be hard to find a local moving company, set up your utilities, and to even get around the city because it’s so crowded.

Know your tenant rights in Boston

Boston has more owner-occupied, two- and three-unit houses than it does apartment complexes, which means that you have a pretty good chance of running into landlords who don’t have a lot of experience. To make moving to Boston easier and to avoid any problems down the road, it definitely pays to know what your rights are before signing the lease. Also, the market is quite competitive, and most people use real estate agents to find an apartment in Boston to rent. While this will certainly make things easier, it’s an additional cost because besides paying the landlord a security deposit and the rent for the first and last month, you also have to pay the agent a fee equating to one month’s rent. One way to avoid the headache of an inexperienced landlord is to rent from a reputable company like Blueground. They offer stunning apartments that are furnished, fully equipped, and serviced, and in some of the best locations in Boston. You can rent the apartment right off their website without having to pay a real estate agent an additional fee. 

Be prepared to do a lot of walking

Almost 50% of Boston residents do not use a car for their daily commute. The city is very easy to walk around because it’s quite small, so many people choose to walk or bike to work, or they use public transit. Plus, driving around Boston is quite challenging due to winding streets, construction, and traffic jams. So, when moving to Boston, you might want to forget the idea of getting a car, especially if you’ll be living in the downtown area, where parking is very difficult and will require a resident parking permit.

Get a moving permit

If you’re not going to hire professional movers, be prepared to get a permit when moving to Boston. This is because you aren’t allowed to occupy more than one spot on the street without a permit. Luckily, you can get these permits online now, which is far easier than having to wait around at City Hall. To make your move quicker, you can donate things like clothes, furniture, used toys, etc. to Goodwill. Also, avoid moving to Boston on the 31st of August or the 1st of September, because City Hall doesn’t approve permits for these dates. Plus, you’ll also be battling the chaos caused by all the students returning to school.