Cost of living · head to head
Phoenix, AZ is 1% 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
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Try your own salary
in Philadelphia, PA
To live the same in Phoenix, AZ, you’d need about $100,682.
That’s about $682 more — Phoenix, AZ is pricier.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 1%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Phoenix, AZ runs 7% higher than in Philadelphia, PA (121.2 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 Phoenix, AZ
| $50,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $50,341 |
| $75,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $75,512 |
| $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $100,682 |
| $150,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $151,023 |
| $200,000 in Philadelphia, PA | $201,365 |
Each row shows the salary in Phoenix, AZ that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Philadelphia, PA.
Philadelphia, PA · housing
113.1
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Common questions
Is Phoenix, AZ cheaper than Philadelphia, PA?
No — Phoenix, AZ has an overall cost-of-living index of 103.3 versus 102.6 for Philadelphia, PA, making it about 1% more expensive.
How much do you need to earn in Phoenix, AZ to match $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA?
About $100,682. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Philadelphia, PA costs roughly $100,682 in Phoenix, AZ.
Is housing cheaper in Phoenix, AZ than in Philadelphia, PA?
Housing in Phoenix, AZ scores 121.2 versus 113.1 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% more expensive. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Philadelphia, PA and Phoenix, AZ?
Overall, Phoenix, AZ is about 1% pricier than Philadelphia, PA (index 103.3 vs 102.6), with housing 7% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.