Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.

Price level
102.6
U.S. average = 100 · #50 of 387
Median wage
$54,310
all jobs · $3,679/mo take-home
1-bedroom rent
$1,520
HUD fair market rent

Salary comparison calculator

What would you need to earn in Philadelphia, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?

Cost of living calculator

Uses BEA price levels plus 2026 federal and state taxes in each city's state.

Salary needed to keep your lifestyle
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    Prices in Philadelphia, PA vs. the U.S. average

    CategoryIndex (U.S. = 100)Difference
    All items102.6+2.6%
    Housing113.1+13.1%
    Goods96.8−3.2%
    Utilities114.4+14.4%
    Other services103.1+3.1%

    Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

    Rent in Philadelphia, PA

    UnitMonthly rentIncome needed (30% rule)
    Studio$1,397$55,880/yr
    1 bedroom$1,520$60,800/yr
    2 bedrooms$1,810$72,400/yr
    3 bedrooms$2,170$86,800/yr
    4 bedrooms$2,423$96,920/yr

    HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.

    Take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA

    Paycheck in Philadelphia, PA
    Deductions, kids & local tax

    2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

    Your take-home pay
    $44,151
    per year · effective tax rate 18.7%
    $3,679Monthly
    $1,840Twice a month
    $1,698Every 2 weeks
    $21.23Hourly
    • Federal income tax$4,337
    • Social Security (6.2%)$3,367
    • Medicare (1.45%)$787
    • Pennsylvania income tax$1,667
    • Take-home pay$44,151

    Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state

    Highest-paying jobs in Philadelphia, PA

    JobMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
    Radiologist$239,200+$297,088$289,690
    Family Medicine Physician$239,200+$202,648$197,601
    Chief Executive$239,200+$201,659$196,637
    Psychiatrist$239,200+$193,699$188,875
    Physicians, All Other$239,200+$172,885$168,579
    Nurse Anesthetist$238,540$168,335$164,143
    Pediatricians, General$226,440$160,763$156,760
    Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$180,330$128,985$125,773
    Computer and Information Systems Manager$173,470$124,507$121,406
    Natural Sciences Manager$172,900$124,135$121,044
    Architectural and Engineering Manager$171,140$122,986$119,923
    Lawyer$170,660$122,673$119,618
    Financial Manager$166,920$120,231$117,237
    Marketing Manager$166,310$119,833$116,849
    Database Architect$163,590$118,058$115,117
    Dentists, General$163,390$117,927$114,990
    General Internal Medicine Physician$159,330$115,277$112,406
    Sales Manager$156,500$113,429$110,604
    Purchasing Manager$155,500$112,776$109,968
    Human Resources Manager$154,490$112,117$109,325

    *In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is Philadelphia, PA expensive to live in?

    According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area are 102.6% of the U.S. average, with housing at 113.1%. It is the #50 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.

    What salary do you need to live in Philadelphia, PA?

    To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $61,532 in Philadelphia, PA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $54,310.

    How much is rent in Philadelphia, PA?

    HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Philadelphia, PA are $1,397 for a studio, $1,520 for one bedroom, $1,810 for two bedrooms and $2,170 for three bedrooms, including utilities.

    All salaries in Philadelphia, PA

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