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Cost of living · head to head

New York, NY is approximately 10% pricier than Philadelphia, PA, using Philadelphia, PA as the comparison base.

Based on overall price levels from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis. 100 equals the national average. Figures represent the wider Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY metropolitan areas, not city limits.

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Philadelphia, PAoverall index
102.6
New York, NYoverall index
112.6
Estimated salary equivalent based on regional price levels
in Philadelphia, PA
A salary of $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA has approximately the same purchasing power as $109,747 in New York, NY, based on regional price levels.
In plain terms: New York, NY is more expensive than Philadelphia, PA, so you’d need about $109,747 there to match the lifestyle $100,000 buys in Philadelphia, PA — same groceries, same rent level, same everyday spending. That’s ~$9,700 more to cover the higher cost of living, not a real raise.
Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Where the difference lies

The headline gap is 10%, but housing is where it really shows. Housing rents in New York, NY run 31% higher than in Philadelphia, PA (148.6 vs 113.1), while everyday goods and services sit closer together. For most people, housing rents move the most when relocating between these two metros, so weigh that gap more heavily than the overall figure.

Category comparison

CategoryPhiladelphia, PANew York, NYDifference
Overall102.6112.6+10%
Goods96.8110.3+14%
Housing rents113.1148.6+31%
Utilities114.4127.0+11%
Other services103.1105.8+3%

New York, NY differs from Philadelphia, PA the most in housing rents — about 31% higher in New York, NY — while the closest is other services.

Estimated salary equivalent in New York, NY

$50,000 in Philadelphia, PA$54,873
$75,000 in Philadelphia, PA$82,310
$100,000 in Philadelphia, PA$109,747
$150,000 in Philadelphia, PA$164,620
$200,000 in Philadelphia, PA$219,493

Each row shows the estimated salary equivalent in New York, NY, based on regional price levels, for the amount earned in Philadelphia, PA.

Before tax. This estimate does not account for individual spending habits, household size, taxes, childcare, healthcare, transport choices or personal housing circumstances.

Common questions

Is New York, NY cheaper than Philadelphia, PA?

No — New York, NY has an overall cost-of-living index of 112.6 versus 102.6 for Philadelphia, PA, making it about 10% more expensive.

What is the estimated salary equivalent for $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA if you moved to New York, NY?

About $109,747, based on regional price levels — a $100,000 salary in Philadelphia, PA has approximately the same purchasing power as $109,747 in New York, NY. This is an estimate and does not account for taxes, household size, or personal spending habits.

Is housing cheaper in New York, NY than in Philadelphia, PA?

Housing rents in New York, NY score 148.6 versus 113.1 in Philadelphia, PA — about 31% more expensive. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

What is the cost of living difference between Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY?

Overall, New York, NY is about 10% pricier than Philadelphia, PA (index 112.6 vs 102.6), with housing 31% higher. Data is from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024.