Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA
| Cost of Living in Philadelphia, PA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 14% higher | 1% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 3% higher | 11% higher |
| Food | 11% higher | 14% higher |
| Healthcare | 1% lower | 4% lower |
| Transportation | 1% higher | 9% higher |
| Goods & Services | 1% higher | 0% |
The cost of living in Philadelphia, PA is 6% higher than the state average and 4% higher than the national average. Philadelphia, PA housing is 1% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 11% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 0% in Philadelphia, PA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 0% .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 4% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 0% in Philadelphia, PA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Philadelphia is $1,925, while home prices circle around $431,346.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Philadelphia, energy bills cost around $211.00 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.10 in Philadelphia, a dozen eggs go for around $3.02 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.08.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Philadelphia, an optometry check-up costs around $119.50, while a dentist appointment is priced $97.54 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $4.00 in Philadelphia, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.52.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $35.50 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $39.06.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Philadelphia, you should budget around $12.44 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $22.22, while dry cleaning costs about $13.00.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Philadelphia, the median household income is $52,649.