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Compare Cost of Living

Select two U.S. metro areas to compare their Regional Price Parity (RPP) indices for goods, services, and housing, plus salary equivalents.

Philadelphia vs Phoenix

Phoenix is 0.7% more expensive than Philadelphia. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities, national average = 100.

Metro A
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
102.6
Overall RPP
96.8
Goods
114.4
Services
113.1
Rents
Metro B
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
103.3
Overall RPP
95.0
Goods
93.3
Services
121.2
Rents

Category Breakdown

Category Philadelphia Phoenix Diff (B−A)
Overall Cost 102.6 103.3 +0.8
Goods 96.8 95.0 -1.8
Services 114.4 93.3 -21.1
Rents/Housing 113.1 121.2 +8.1

Visual Comparison

Overall Cost About the same as Philadelphia
Philadelphia
102.6
Phoenix
103.3
Goods Lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
96.8
Phoenix
95.0
Services Lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
114.4
Phoenix
93.3
Rents/Housing Higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
113.1
Phoenix
121.2

Vertical marker = national average (100)

Salary Equivalents

What you would need to earn in Phoenix to match your purchasing power in Philadelphia:

Salary in Philadelphia Equivalent in Phoenix Difference
$50,000 $50,372 +$372
$75,000 $75,557 +$557
$100,000 $100,743 +$743
$150,000 $151,115 +$1,115

Use the salary calculator for custom amounts and reverse direction.

Metro Context

Metric Philadelphia Phoenix
Population 6,241,882 4,941,206
Median Household Income $89,273 $84,703
Data Year 2024 2024
State PA AZ

Key Differences

Overall Cost: Phoenix is 0.8 points pricier than Philadelphia (102.6 vs 103.3).

Goods: Philadelphia is 1.8 points cheaper than Phoenix (96.8 vs 95.0).

Services: Philadelphia is 21.1 points cheaper than Phoenix (114.4 vs 93.3).

Rents/Housing: Phoenix is 8.1 points pricier than Philadelphia (113.1 vs 121.2).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phoenix more expensive than Philadelphia?
Phoenix is 0.7% more expensive than Philadelphia. The overall cost index is 103.3 vs 102.6 (national average = 100).
What salary in Phoenix is equivalent to $100K in Philadelphia?
A $100,000 salary in Philadelphia has the same purchasing power as $100,743 in Phoenix, based on BEA Regional Price Parity data.
How do housing costs compare between Philadelphia and Phoenix?
Housing/rents in Philadelphia are indexed at 113.1 while Phoenix is at 121.2 (national average = 100). Phoenix has higher housing costs.
Which is larger - Philadelphia or Phoenix?
Philadelphia is larger by population. Philadelphia has 6,241,882 residents vs 4,941,206 in Phoenix.

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area Index where U.S. average = 100