Cost of Living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2026)
COL Index
107
100 = US avg
1BR Rent
$2,000
per month
Median HHI
$55K
per year
State Tax
3.1%
income tax
Full cost breakdown
| Category | Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| 🏠 HousingQ1 2026 | |
| Studio rent/mo | $1,600 |
| 1BR rent/mo | $2,000 |
| 2BR rent/mo | $2,600 |
| Median home price | $290K |
| 🛒 Food & GroceriesQ1 2026 | |
| Groceries index (100 = US avg) | 103 |
| Budget meal (1 person) | $15 |
| Mid-range dinner (2 people) | $60 |
| 🚌 TransportationQ1 2026 | |
| Monthly transit pass/mo | $96 |
| Gas price/gal | $3.30 |
| Car insurance/mo | $175 |
| ⚡ UtilitiesQ1 2026 | |
| Utilities bundle (elec + gas + water)/mo | $160 |
| Internet/mo | $65 |
| 💰 Income & TaxesQ1 2026 | |
| Median household income/yr | $55K |
| State income tax rate | 3.1% |
| Sales tax (combined) | 8.0% |
| 📊 OverviewQ1 2026 | |
| Overall COL index (100 = US avg) | 107 |
| Walk score / 100 | 76 |
Is Philadelphia affordable on your salary?
How rent burden (1BR) changes across income levels. Under 30% is comfortable; above 40% is tight.
$40K
~$2,625/mo take-home
76% rent burden · Difficult
$50K
~$3,031/mo take-home
66% rent burden · Difficult
$60K
~$3,638/mo take-home
55% rent burden · Difficult
$75K
~$4,547/mo take-home
44% rent burden · Tight
$80K
~$4,850/mo take-home
41% rent burden · Tight
$100K
~$6,063/mo take-home
33% rent burden · Manageable
$120K
~$6,845/mo take-home
29% rent burden · Manageable
$150K
~$8,556/mo take-home
23% rent burden · Comfortable
Too expensive? Find cheaper alternatives.
See cities with a lower cost of living than Philadelphia.
Compare Philadelphia with other cities
Philadelphia vs New YorkCompare →Philadelphia vs Los AngelesCompare →Philadelphia vs ChicagoCompare →Philadelphia vs HoustonCompare →
Data: Zillow Observed Rent Index, BLS, Numbeo, Tax Foundation, US Census ACS · Q1 2026 · For general guidance only