What is the cost of living in Philadelphia, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Philadelphia has an overall cost of living index of 103, which is 1.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Philadelphia has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Philadelphia ranks as #177 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Philadelphia ranks as the #76 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Philadelphia, check out:
Philadelphia Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Philadelphia. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Philadelphia is 103.
The Groceries index in Philadelphia is 100.
The Health index in Philadelphia is 101.
The Housing index in Philadelphia is 107.
The Transportation index in Philadelphia is 99.
The Utilities index in Philadelphia is 112.
| Living Expense | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 103 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 101 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 107 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 99 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 112 | 101 | 100 |
Philadelphia Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Philadelphia, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Philadelphia is $231,814.
The Median Rent in Philadelphia is $1,397.
The Median Income in Philadelphia is $61,953.
The Home Value To Income in Philadelphia is 3.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Philadelphia is 0.27x.
| Statistic | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $231,814 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,397 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $61,953 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.7x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.27x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Philadelphia, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Philadelphia Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.52 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.75 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $19.47 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.54 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $66.27 | $45.56 |
Detailed Philadelphia Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.76 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.46 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.67 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.37 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.73 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $11.99 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.65 | $3.7 |
Detailed Philadelphia Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.5 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $132.56 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $103.31 | $113.29 |
Detailed Philadelphia Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.53 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $70.89 | $59.92 |
Detailed Philadelphia Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $222.45 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $198.27 | $192.25 |
Philadelphia SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Philadelphia
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Philadelphia. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Camden, NJ has a cost of living index of 96, 0.9x Philadelphia.
Springdale, NJ has a cost of living index of 125, 1.2x Philadelphia.
Montgomeryville, PA has a cost of living index of 126, 1.2x Philadelphia.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden, NJ | 71,496 | 96 | 0.9x |
| Springdale, NJ | 15,173 | 125 | 1.2x |
| Montgomeryville, PA | 13,388 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Greentree, NJ | 11,537 | 135 | 1.3x |
| Ashland, NJ | 9,320 | 122 | 1.2x |
| Glenside, PA | 7,659 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Palmyra, NJ | 7,485 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Maple Glen, PA | 6,643 | 140 | 1.4x |
| Ramblewood, NJ | 6,611 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Penn Wynne, PA | 6,070 | 132 | 1.3x |
