Boston, U.S.A.
Living in Allston-Brighton, Boston
Student neighborhood near Boston University. Cheap eats, dive bars, and multicultural food scene.
A one-bedroom in Allston-Brighton rents for about $2,300 - $2,800/month — a moderate area (safety 3/5), roughly 20 minutes from Boston center by metro.
Commute to Center
20 min
metro
Safety Rating
3/5
ModerateVibe
studentaffordablediverse
Rent in Allston-Brighton
Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $2,000 - $2,400/mo | $2,300 - $2,800/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $2,500 - $3,000/mo | $2,900 - $3,400/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $3,000 - $3,600/mo | $3,400 - $4,100/mo |
How Allston-Brighton compares in Boston
Within AffordWhere's Boston dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $2,550/month — roughly 14% below the city median, and among the more affordable of the 9 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $2,900 - $3,400/month and three-bedrooms $3,400 - $4,100/month on second-hand contracts. At 20 minutes to the center by metro, it sits about as central as most Boston areas in the set. On safety it rates 3/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the student, affordable, diverse tags, it may suit value-conscious renters and students.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Dorchester. For a shorter commute, see Beacon Hill.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps Boston Landing as the nearest rail stop, Herter Park as nearby green space and Star Market as the nearest supermarket around the Allston-Brighton reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows several cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Allston-Brighton, Boston?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Allston-Brighton costs $2,300 - $2,800/month (second-hand contract) or $2,000 - $2,400/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $2,900 - $3,400/month, and a 3-bedroom from $3,400 - $4,100/month.
- Is Allston-Brighton safe for expats?
- Allston-Brighton has a safety rating of 3/5 (Moderate) on our scale. That is mid-scale; standard urban precautions are advisable.
- How long is the commute from Allston-Brighton to Boston center?
- The commute from Allston-Brighton to Boston city center takes approximately 20 minutes by metro.
- What is Allston-Brighton like to live in?
- Student neighborhood near Boston University. Cheap eats, dive bars, and multicultural food scene. In our data it is tagged as student, affordable, diverse.
Other neighborhoods in Boston
Back Bay
10 min walk to center
1BR from $3,400/mo
upscalehistoricshopping
South End
10 min metro to center
1BR from $3,200/mo
foodieLGBTQ+artsy
Cambridge
15 min metro to center
1BR from $3,100/mo
academicintellectualdiverse
Beacon Hill
5 min walk to center
1BR from $3,300/mo
historicelegantcharming
Somerville
20 min metro to center
1BR from $2,700/mo
hipsterdiverseaffordable
Jamaica Plain
25 min metro to center
1BR from $2,400/mo
diverseprogressivecommunity
Dorchester
25 min metro to center
1BR from $2,000/mo
diverseaffordablecommunity
Medford
30 min metro to center
1BR from $2,200/mo
suburbanaffordablefamily-friendly
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