Cost of living index
Philadelphia, PA
102.6 / 100
Living in Philadelphia, PA is 2.6% more expensive than the US average.
Overall prices
102.6
Housing / rent
113.1
vs US average
+2.6%
What it costs to live in Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, PA has an overall price level of 102.6 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 2.6% higher than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 113.1 it is 13.1% above the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Compare Philadelphia, PA with
New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXHouston, TXWashington, DCAtlanta, GAMiami, FLPhoenix, AZBoston, MARiverside, CA
Common questions
Is Philadelphia, PA an expensive place to live?
Philadelphia, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 102.6, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 2.6% more expensive than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Philadelphia, PA?
Housing in Philadelphia, PA scores 113.1 against a US average of 100 — roughly 13.1% above average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Philadelphia, PA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Philadelphia, PA sit at 102.6 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 113.1. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.