Cost of living · head to head
Boston, MA is 6% pricier than Philadelphia, PA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Philadelphia, PAoverall index
102.6
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Try your own salary
in Philadelphia, PA
To live the same in Boston, MA, you’d need about $105,556.
That’s about $5,556 more — Boston, MA is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 6%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Boston, MA runs 31% higher than in Philadelphia, PA (148.4 vs 113.1), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people the rent or mortgage line moves the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.
Salary you’d need in Boston, MA
| $50,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $52,778 |
| $75,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $79,167 |
| $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $105,556 |
| $150,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $158,333 |
| $200,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $211,111 |
Each row shows the salary in Boston, MA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Philadelphia, PA.
Philadelphia, PA · housing
113.1
Boston, MA · housing
148.4
Common questions
Is Boston, MA cheaper than Philadelphia, PA?
No — Boston, MA has an overall cost-of-living index of 108.3 versus 102.6 for Philadelphia, PA, making it about 6% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Boston, MA to match $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA?
About $105,556. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Philadelphia, PA costs roughly $105,556 in Boston, MA.
Is housing cheaper in Boston, MA than in Philadelphia, PA?
Housing in Boston, MA scores 148.4 versus 113.1 in Philadelphia, PA — about 31% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Philadelphia, PA and Boston, MA?
Overall, Boston, MA is about 6% pricier than Philadelphia, PA (index 108.3 vs 102.6), with housing 31% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.