Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA (2026)

Philadelphia's cost of living is 3% above the US average. $100,000 here is worth about $97,510 nationally. Rent, homes and monthly costs.

Philadelphia has a cost-of-living index of 103 against a US average of 100 — about 3% above average. $100,000 of income here is worth roughly $97,510 at the national average.

What it costs to live in Philadelphia

MeasurePhiladelphiaUS average
Cost-of-living index103100
Median rent$1,323/mo-
Median home value$232,400-
Median household income$60,698-
Population1,582,432-

Monthly cost breakdown in Philadelphia

Estimates use BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey shares scaled by the local cost-of-living index. Housing uses the city’s median rent; the owning column uses a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down on the median home.

CategoryRentingOwning
Housing$1,323$1,350
Transport$851$851
Food$669$669
Healthcare$420$420
Other$1,494$1,494
Total$4,757$4,784

Affordability in Philadelphia

Median rent takes about 26.2% of the median household income in Philadelphia — comfortably inside the 30% rule of thumb.

The median home costs 3.8x the median household income. Three times income is the traditional comfort line; five times is where affordability usually breaks down.

Highest-paying roles in Philadelphia

RoleTypical salaryWorth nationally
Marketing Manager$142,330$138,785
Software Developer$127,150$123,983
Data Scientist$106,760$104,101
Physical Therapist$104,670$102,063
Mechanical Engineer$104,520$101,917
Web Developer$96,900$94,487
Registered Nurse$96,710$94,302
Financial Analyst$94,720$92,361

“Worth nationally” adjusts each salary for Philadelphia’s cost of living, so you can compare offers between cities on equal terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Philadelphia has a cost-of-living index of 103 against a US average of 100, so it is about 3% above the national average. In practical terms, $100,000 of income in Philadelphia has roughly the purchasing power of $97,510 at the national average.

A common benchmark is keeping rent at or under 30% of gross income. At Philadelphia's median rent of $1,323/month that implies about $52,920 a year before tax. The median household in Philadelphia earns $60,698.

Renting, a single household spends roughly $4,757 a month in Philadelphia across housing, transport, food, healthcare and everything else. Buying at the median home price, the estimate is about $4,784 a month including a 30-year mortgage at 6.7% with 10% down.

The median home in Philadelphia costs $232,400, which is 3.8x the median household income of $60,698. Lenders traditionally treat 3x as comfortable and about 5x as stretched, so Philadelphia is manageable but tight.