Cost of living in Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, United States, a single person typically needs around $2541 per month including rent. A family of four may spend about $6190 monthly.

How expensive is Philadelphia compared to other cities?

Compared to the European benchmark, Philadelphia is 78% more expensive overall.

How does Philadelphia compare to your city?

Philadelphia is 27% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Philadelphia is, on average, 43% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Philadelphia?

Who is Philadelphia a good fit for?

Philadelphia tends to fit higher-income residents who can comfortably absorb housing costs. It can be challenging on a moderate budget, mainly due to rent and utilities.

FAQ

Why is Philadelphia so expensive?

The primary driver of Philadelphia's high cost of living is the significant expense associated with rent and utilities. This factor heavily influences overall living costs.

Is food expensive in Philadelphia?

Yes, food costs are 46% higher than the European benchmark, making dining and grocery shopping relatively pricey.

Is public transport affordable in Philadelphia?

No, public transport costs are 154% higher than the European benchmark, which can be a burden for daily commuters.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2541 $
Without Rent
1039 $
Rent & Utilities
1502 $
Food
694 $
Transport
190 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
4036 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
1.6M

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 20.1 $
Dinner 75.3 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 5.99 $
Capuccino 4.84 $
Coke, 330ml 2.55 $

Compare Philadelphia with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.31 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.93 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 7.46 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.05 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 18.5 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 12.6 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 19.4 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.98 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 2.29 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.55 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 5.93 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.67 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 3.74 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.55 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 3.6 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 16.9 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.74 $
Cigarette pack 13 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 2.51 $
Monthly Pass 96.5 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.99 $
Taxi, 8 km 15.3 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 103 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 9.21 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 6 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 4.11 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.31 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 157 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 239 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 64.5 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,201 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 2,242 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,598 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 3,091 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 3,533 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 2,34 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 4,036 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.59%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 36.8 $
Cinema, 1 seat 14 $
Haircut 24.7 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 92.1 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 53.8 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,909 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 20,863 $

Compare Philadelphia with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Philadelphia vs George Town (George Town is 43% more expensive)
Bahamas
Philadelphia vs Nassau (Nassau is 8% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Freeport (Freeport is 14% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Philadelphia vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 8% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Luganville (Luganville is 20% more expensive)
United States
Philadelphia vs New York City (New York City is 59% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 25% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Chicago (Chicago is 5% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Houston (Houston is 12% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 7% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia has similar costs) Philadelphia vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 14% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Diego (San Diego is 32% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Dallas (Dallas is 0% more expensive) Philadelphia vs San Jose (San Jose is 45% more expensive)
Canada
Philadelphia vs Toronto (Toronto is 1% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Montreal (Montreal is 23% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Calgary (Calgary is 15% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 12% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 30% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 31% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 3% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 4% more expensive) Philadelphia vs Brampton (Brampton is 16% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 15% less expensive)
Barbados
Philadelphia vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 46% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Holetown (Holetown is 45% less expensive)
Panama
Philadelphia vs Panama City (Panama City is 46% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Colon (Colon is 53% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 52% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 58% less expensive) Philadelphia vs David (David is 67% less expensive) Philadelphia vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 62% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Balboa (Balboa is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Pacora (Pacora is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Chitre (Chitre is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Penonome (Penonome is 57% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Philadelphia vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Cayon (Cayon is 51% less expensive)
Cuba
Philadelphia vs Havana (Havana is 60% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 44% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Holguin (Holguin is 50% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 40% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 59% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 54% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 39% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 39% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 65% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Philadelphia vs San Jose (San Jose is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Limon (Limon is 53% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Liberia (Liberia is 65% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 50% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Cartago (Cartago is 62% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Heredia (Heredia is 51% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 34% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 48% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Philadelphia vs Castries (Castries is 54% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 53% less expensive)
Jamaica
Philadelphia vs Kingston (Kingston is 48% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 69% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 60% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 54% less expensive) Philadelphia vs May Pen (May Pen is 68% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 62% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 67% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Linstead (Linstead is 59% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 56% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 55% less expensive)
El Salvador
Philadelphia vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 53% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 72% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 54% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 54% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Apopa (Apopa is 55% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 53% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 43% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 65% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Philadelphia vs St. John's (St. John's is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs All Saints (All Saints is 57% less expensive)
Grenada
Philadelphia vs St. George's (St. George's is 58% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Grenville (Grenville is 58% less expensive)
Dominica
Philadelphia vs Roseau (Roseau is 61% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 55% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Philadelphia vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 61% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 60% less expensive)
Belize
Philadelphia vs Belize City (Belize City is 65% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 57% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 71% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 48% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 38% less expensive)
Guatemala
Philadelphia vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 60% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Mixco (Mixco is 75% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Coban (Coban is 64% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 69% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 64% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 65% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 66% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 66% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Flores (Flores is 66% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 69% less expensive)
Honduras
Philadelphia vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 67% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 59% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Choloma (Choloma is 76% less expensive) Philadelphia vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 74% less expensive) Philadelphia vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 65% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 66% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 72% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 72% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Yoro (Yoro is 71% less expensive) Philadelphia vs La Lima (La Lima is 66% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Philadelphia vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 69% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 59% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 70% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Higuey (Higuey is 70% less expensive) Philadelphia vs La Vega (La Vega is 77% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 67% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 71% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 79% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 75% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Bonao (Bonao is 79% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Philadelphia vs Managua (Managua is 70% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Leon (Leon is 75% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Masaya (Masaya is 72% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 78% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 75% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Esteli (Esteli is 77% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Granada (Granada is 73% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 82% less expensive) Philadelphia vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 74% less expensive) Philadelphia vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 65% less expensive)