Cost of living · head to head
Philadelphia, PA is 1% cheaper than Phoenix, AZ.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Phoenix, AZoverall index
103.3
Philadelphia, PAoverall index
102.6
Try your own salary
in Phoenix, AZ
To live the same in Philadelphia, PA, you’d need about $99,322.
That’s about $678 less — Philadelphia, PA is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 1%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Philadelphia, PA runs 7% lower than in Phoenix, AZ (113.1 vs 121.2), 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 Philadelphia, PA
| $50,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $49,661 |
| $75,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $74,492 |
| $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $99,322 |
| $150,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $148,984 |
| $200,000 in Phoenix, AZ | $198,645 |
Each row shows the salary in Philadelphia, PA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Phoenix, AZ.
Phoenix, AZ · housing
121.2
Philadelphia, PA · housing
113.1
Common questions
Is Philadelphia, PA cheaper than Phoenix, AZ?
Yes — Philadelphia, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 102.6 versus 103.3 for Phoenix, AZ, making it about 1% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Philadelphia, PA to match $100,000 in Phoenix, AZ?
About $99,322. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Phoenix, AZ costs roughly $99,322 in Philadelphia, PA.
Is housing cheaper in Philadelphia, PA than in Phoenix, AZ?
Housing in Philadelphia, PA scores 113.1 versus 121.2 in Phoenix, AZ — about 7% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Phoenix, AZ and Philadelphia, PA?
Overall, Philadelphia, PA is about 1% cheaper than Phoenix, AZ (index 102.6 vs 103.3), with housing 7% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.