Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Close to the national average and a clear bargain compared with New York or Boston.
Cost of living index (US avg = 100): 102
Median 2BR rent: $1,900/mo
Housing: 104 vs 100
Groceries: 102 vs 100
Utilities: 105 vs 100
Transportation: 99 vs 100
Healthcare: 99 vs 100
Philadelphia delivers East Coast history, walkable neighborhoods, and real food at a fraction of New York prices. Housing is the headline value, though city wage taxes are worth factoring in.