Cost of living in Philadelphia — is your salary enough?
Philadelphia median rent is around $1,700/month, making it one of the more affordable major north-east cities. Philadelphia earners at mid-income levels benefit from lower housing costs than nearby New York or Boston.
Rent in Philadelphia
Other monthly costs
How different incomes stack up
At typical Philadelphia costs ($1,700 rent)
See your personal verdict for Philadelphia
Cost figures are estimates based on reported median rents and typical spending patterns. Savings benchmarks from BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2023. Figures in USD.
Frequently asked questions — Living in Philadelphia
How much does it cost to live in Philadelphia?+
Core monthly costs in Philadelphia run about $3,400 — roughly $1,700 for rent and $1,700 for other living expenses (food, transport, utilities, basics). Philadelphia median rent is around $1,700/month, making it one of the more affordable major north-east cities.
What is the median rent in Philadelphia?+
The median rent in Philadelphia is around $1,700 per month. Philadelphia is classified as a high cost cost-of-living city in United States.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Philadelphia?+
Using the 70%-rule (core costs ≤ 70% of gross), you need roughly $58,286 per year before tax to live comfortably in Philadelphia. That leaves room to hit the 12% savings benchmark for United States.
Is Philadelphia expensive compared to the rest of United States?+
Philadelphia sits in the high cost tier within United States. Philadelphia earners at mid-income levels benefit from lower housing costs than nearby New York or Boston.
How much of your income should rent take in Philadelphia?+
The standard rule is no more than 30% of gross income on rent. At $1,700/month in Philadelphia, that means a gross income of at least $68,000 per year to stay under the 30% threshold.
Can you still save money living in Philadelphia?+
Yes — the United States benchmark for mid-income earners is 12% of gross income. In a high cost city like Philadelphia, hitting that rate is tighter but achievable with disciplined budgeting.
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