Cost of living in Philadelphia: rent, homes and salary
The cost of living in Philadelphia sits 2.6% above the US average, based on a BEA regional price parity (RPP) of 102.6 recorded for the metro area of Philadelphia, PA in 2024, where the US is 100, while housing alone reaches 113.1.
- Level of prices
- 102.6US = 100, BEA 2024
- Price level for housing
- 113.1 for rents, US = 100.
Cost of living index for Philadelphia
A regional price parity compares, for one place, what the same set of goods and services costs, measured against the US average, set at 100. Philadelphia is part of the metro area Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, and BEA prices that whole area as one. Utilities sit furthest from the US average, at 114.4, or 14.4% above the US.
| Price level, US = 100 | Philadelphia, PA metro | Pennsylvania | Metro against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.6 | 97.6 | +2.6% |
| Goods | 96.8 | 99.4 | −3.2% |
| Housing (rents) | 113.1 | 85.1 | +13.1% |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 109.3 | +14.4% |
| Other services | 103.1 | 99.8 | +3.1% |
The 2024 regional price parity figures for metro areas and states come from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. BEA price parity data
Rent prices in Philadelphia
A typical asking rent in Philadelphia runs $1,757 a month, according to the Zillow Observed Rent Index, or ZORI. That index covers rent on homes listed now, and the yearly change is +3.4%. In the US, that figure is $1,932. Census reports median gross rent of $1,500, a figure that covers every renting household, not just new leases. Paying the asking rent for one year takes 35% of the median household income.
| Rent | Philadelphia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical asking rent, Zillow ZORI | $1,757 | $1,932 |
| Asking rent, 12-month change | +3.4% | |
| Median gross rent, Census ACS 2024 | $1,500 | $1,487 |
| Share of median income for a year of asking rent | 35% | 28% |
Zillow Observed Rent Index; one-year estimates from Census Bureau American Community Survey 2024.
What homes cost in Philadelphia
The Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) values a typical home in Philadelphia at $231,584 as of September 2026, the value of a home in the middle of the market. Year over year, the change is 0%, compared with $366,157 for the US. That price equals 3.8 years of median household income, compared with 4.5 for the US.
| Home prices | Philadelphia | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value, September 2026 | $231,584 | $366,157 |
| 12-month change | 0% | +1.2% |
| 10-year change | +72.4% | +77.4% |
| Price to income (years of median income) | 3.8 | 4.5 |
| Price to rent (years of asking rent) | 11.0 | 15.8 |
Price chart since 2000, plus the forecast and days on market: Housing market in Philadelphia.
The salary you need to live in Philadelphia
A salary in Philadelphia buys what your pay buys now, and two questions set the amount: what you earn, and the place you live.
- Moving away from
- Salary
Side-by-side figures for every city, plus the method behind them: cost of living.
Moving to Philadelphia? Compare moving quotes on Moving.com, a mover-quote service; we are not paid for this link.
Philadelphia cost of living compared with other cities
| City | Level of prices | Housing | The typical rent | Value of a typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 102.6 | 113.1 | $1,757 | $231,584 |
| Pittsburgh | 94.7 | 72.0 | $1,569 | $234,620 |
| New York City | 112.6 | 148.6 | $4,089 | $825,854 |
| Los Angeles | 113.6 | 170.4 | $2,772 | $927,891 |
| Chicago | 103.6 | 112.0 | $2,311 | $334,108 |
| Houston | 98.6 | 104.5 | $1,544 | $259,465 |
| Phoenix | 103.3 | 121.2 | $1,571 | $404,067 |
| San Antonio | 94.7 | 94.6 | $1,381 | $244,623 |
| San Diego | 111.9 | 179.3 | $3,004 | $980,490 |
Price levels come from BEA regional price parities 2024, with US = 100. For rent, Zillow ZORI. Home value comes from Zillow ZHVI, September 2026.
All cities ranked: cost of living comparison by city. Each state: cost of living by state.