Cost of living · head to head
Philadelphia, PA is 5% cheaper than Boston, MA.
Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average.
Boston, MAoverall index
108.3
Philadelphia, PAoverall index
102.6
Try your own salary
in Boston, MA
To live the same in Philadelphia, PA, you’d need about $94,737.
That’s about $5,263 less — Philadelphia, PA is cheaper.
Where the difference lies
The headline gap is 5%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing in Philadelphia, PA runs 24% lower than in Boston, MA (113.1 vs 148.4), 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 Boston, MA | $47,368 |
| $75,000 in Boston, MA | $71,053 |
| $100,000 in Boston, MA | $94,737 |
| $150,000 in Boston, MA | $142,105 |
| $200,000 in Boston, MA | $189,474 |
Each row shows the salary in Philadelphia, PA that buys the same standard of living as the amount earned in Boston, MA.
Boston, MA · housing
148.4
Philadelphia, PA · housing
113.1
Common questions
Is Philadelphia, PA cheaper than Boston, MA?
Yes — Philadelphia, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 102.6 versus 108.3 for Boston, MA, making it about 5% cheaper.
How much do you need to earn in Philadelphia, PA to match $100,000 in Boston, MA?
About $94,737. To keep the same standard of living, salaries scale with local prices, so a $100,000 lifestyle in Boston, MA costs roughly $94,737 in Philadelphia, PA.
Is housing cheaper in Philadelphia, PA than in Boston, MA?
Housing in Philadelphia, PA scores 113.1 versus 148.4 in Boston, MA — about 24% cheaper. Housing is usually the biggest driver of the overall gap.
What is the cost of living difference between Boston, MA and Philadelphia, PA?
Overall, Philadelphia, PA is about 5% cheaper than Boston, MA (index 102.6 vs 108.3), with housing 24% lower. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.