CITY COMPARISON
NYC vs Philadelphia Cost of Living: Which Is Cheaper in 2026?
Data updated May 2026. Rent from Zillow ZORI, taxes from the Tax Foundation, cost-of-living index from BEA.
New York to Philadelphia is the move for people who want to stay in the Northeast corridor without New York prices. Philadelphia is roughly a ninety-minute train ride away, so it is not a clean break.
New York's combined state and city income tax is heavy. Pennsylvania uses a low flat rate. Philadelphia rent and cost of living are far below New York's.
Is NYC or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?
At a $100,000 salary, moving from NYC to Philadelphia frees up roughly $31,900 a year in disposable income. At $150,000 the gap widens to about $33,800 a year in Philadelphia's favor.
Philadelphia wins clearly. A low flat state income tax instead of New York's stacked rates, much lower rent, and a cost of living near the national average. New York only holds an edge for careers that must be physically there.
DISPOSABLE INCOME: MOVING NYC → PHILADELPHIA
AT A $100,000 SALARY
in Philadelphia's favor
AT A $150,000 SALARY
in Philadelphia's favor
Assumes the same gross salary in both cities (the remote-work case) and a single filer renting at the local median. Positive means Philadelphia leaves more money after tax, housing, and everyday costs.
Full cost breakdown: NYC vs Philadelphia
Here is where every dollar goes in each city, at two salary levels. Taxes, housing, and everyday costs are all in.
AT A $100,000 SALARY
| Line item | NYC | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$15,000 | -$15,000 |
| State income tax (6.85%) Philadelphia: (3.07%) | -$6,850 | -$3,070 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$7,650 | -$7,650 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,660/mo) Philadelphia: ($1,480/mo) | -$31,920 | -$17,760 |
| Other living costs (COL index 187) Philadelphia: (COL index 102) | -$43,050 | -$30,300 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.53%) Philadelphia: (6.34%) | -$2,571 | -$1,345 |
| Disposable income / year | -$7,041 | $24,875 |
AT A $150,000 SALARY
| Line item | NYC | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$27,000 | -$27,000 |
| State income tax (6.85%) Philadelphia: (3.07%) | -$10,275 | -$4,605 |
| FICA (Social Security + Medicare) | -$11,475 | -$11,475 |
| Housing (median rent) ($2,660/mo) Philadelphia: ($1,480/mo) | -$31,920 | -$17,760 |
| Other living costs (COL index 187) Philadelphia: (COL index 102) | -$43,050 | -$30,300 |
| Sales tax on spending (8.53%) Philadelphia: (6.34%) | -$2,571 | -$1,345 |
| Disposable income / year | $23,709 | $57,515 |
NYC vs Philadelphia: taxes, rent, and schools at a glance
| Metric | NYC | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax | 6.85% | 3.07% |
| Median 1-bedroom rent | $2,660/mo | $1,480/mo |
| Combined sales tax | 8.53% | 6.34% |
| Cost-of-living index (US avg = 100) | 187 | 102 |
| School composite rating (1-10) | 6/10 | 5/10 |
Who should pick NYC?
Stay in New York if your job genuinely requires the city and pays a premium for it, or if you hold a rent-stabilized apartment that undercuts Philadelphia's housing advantage.
Who should pick Philadelphia?
Pick Philadelphia if you want Northeast access at a discount. You keep more of your paycheck, pay far less in rent, and New York is still close enough for a day trip or an occasional commute.
How we calculated this
Disposable income is gross salary minus federal income tax, state income tax, FICA, housing, everyday non-housing costs, and sales tax on discretionary spending. Federal tax uses 2026 effective rates after the standard deduction for a single filer. State income tax is a single-bracket approximation for mid-six-figure earners. Housing is the median 1-bedroom rent. Non-housing costs scale with the BEA cost-of-living index. Sales tax is applied to roughly 70 percent of discretionary spending, since groceries and many services are reduced-rate or exempt in most states.
The numbers on this page assume the same gross salary in both cities. That is the remote-work scenario, and it is the cleanest way to isolate the cost-of-living difference. If a new job would rebase your salary by city, plug both real offers into the tool below.
Run your own NYC vs Philadelphia numbers
The interactive Move-To-City tool lets you set different salaries for each city, enter your actual rent, switch filing status, and see the full FIRE-timeline impact of the move.
Open the Move-To-City tool →KEEP READING
Educational only, not financial advice. Cost-of-living estimates are modeled approximations from public data and will not match any individual budget exactly. Verify rent, tax, and salary figures for your own situation before making a move.