Working in Boston United States of America
A major cultural centre on the east coast of the United States, Boston is the largest city in New England and the capital of Massachusetts. About 4.5 million live in Boston’s metropolitan area making it one of the country’s most populated cities.
As one of the oldest cities in the US, Boston is a hotspot for American tourism and is home to many of the country’s greatest museums and historical sites. The city has a continental climate with cold winters and warm, humid summers.
- Airport
- Railway Station
- Transportation
- Cost of Living
- Accommodation
- Shopping
- Emergency
- Insurance and Healthcare
Location
Tourism Video
Airport
Logan International Airport
The busiest airport in New England, Logan International Airport services close to 30 million passengers each year. It is a hub for many American airlines, including JetBlue Airways and Cape Air, and provides flights to a wide range of domestic and international locations.
Logan International Airport, which is just 5km from Downtown Boston, is well regarded for its transport options getting to and from the airport. Options for travellers include regional bus services, shuttles, rapid train services and taxis from all parts of the city.
Railway Station
South Station
Boston’s largest train station and busiest bus terminal was constructed in 1899 in the city’s downtown area. The station remains a key domestic transportation hub and is visited by thousands of passengers on a daily basis. It is also a connection for two of Boston’s subway lines and has facilities such as shopping areas and many restaurants.
Transportation
Expect a different experience traveling around central Boston from other American cities, which generally have an established grid system for its road and public transport systems. Getting around Boston you will find twists and turns in all directions and not so much the typical grid systems that make cities such as New York reasonably simple to navigate. However, the public transport system in Boston is relatively easy to use, cheap and efficient. A common suggestion is simply to get to know how it works before visiting. Public transport in Boston features an extensive subway, train and bus service to almost anywhere around the New England city. Boston may not be the easiest place to navigate by road but by foot or on two wheels it can be easier. The city has a well established network for people traveling by foot or bike.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Boston is average to high by western standards for expats. Rental prices in Boston are particularly steep for working holidaymakers wishing to spend an extended time in the city. According to online cost of living database Numbeo (http://www.numbeo.com/), prices for typical items on current exchange rates (August 2013) are as follows:
| Food | |
| Cheap meal (inexpensive restaurant) | $15.00 |
| Three-course meal for two at mid-range restaurant | $60.00 |
| Domestic beer (500mL) | $5.00 |
| Coke (330mL) | $1.50 |
| Milk (1 litre) | $1.05 |
| Loaf of bread | $3.00 |
| Eggs | $2.65 |
| Transport | |
| One way ticket (local transport) | $2.12 |
| Monthly pass | $70.00 |
| Petrol (1 litre) | $1.00 |
| Rent (monthly) | |
| One bedroom apartment (central area) | $1997.50 approx |
| Three bedroom apartment (central area) | $3500 approx |
| Accommodation | |
| Hostel bed (one night) | $30 |
| Five star hotel room (one night) | $250 |
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | $3250 |
Accommodation
As a popular destination for tourists, Boston has a strong range of hotels and hostels to choose from for visitors. The most popular areas to stay for visitors in Boston include Back Bay, Boston Common and Downtown, North End and Cambridge.
A few options to consider include:
Budget
Hostelling International Boston – Chinatown
Backpackers Hostel & Pub
Red Roof Inn – Boston Logan
Mid-range
The Chandler Inn Hotel
The Liberty Hotel, Boston
The Kendall Hotel
High-end
Taj Boston
Boston Marriot Copley Place
Boston Omni Parker House Hotel
Shopping
Boston has two major shopping areas: Downtown Crossing and Back Bay. There are also many malls and large shopping centres around the city for a range of goods and services recognisable in all major American cities. Boston’s two major, most centrally located malls are The Cambridgeside Galleria and Copley Place and Prudential Center. Other shopping areas worth checking out include Newbury Street, Harvard Square, Coolidge Corner and Charles Street.
Emergency
Emergency numbers
Police / Fire / Medical emergency 911
Insurance and Healthcare
Health care in the United States consists of public and private sectors. The public sector is generally provided by the government and funded by taxes. Public health care programs in the United States include Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The system is rated highly on a global scale by the World Health Organisation, but there is a high percentage of Americans not covered by health care. The WBO also rates the quality of health facilities in the United States as excellent.
There is a higher focus on the private sector than public in the United States. This provides expats with a large number of options when choosing a health care plan in the country. Costs for private health treatment in the United State are comparable to those in Australia.
Despite a high standard of health facilities in the United States, DFAT recommends all Australians travelling to the country take out comprehensive travel insurance to cover any overseas costs.