Overall
102.6
+2.6 above avg
Metro cost profile · 2024 BEA RPP
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Cost-of-living indicators for Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities — overall, goods, services, and rents vs the U.S. average of 100.
- 102.6
- Overall RPP
- #50
- of 387 metros
- 113.1
- Rents RPP
- $98K
- $100K national buys
The verdict
Philadelphia is more expensive than 87% of U.S. metros — an overall cost index of 102.6, 2.6% above the national average, led by services at 114.4.
- 102.6
- overall cost index (US average = 100)
- #50
- most expensive of 387 U.S. metros
- top 13%
- by overall cost, nationwide
- 113.1
- rents RPP — the biggest budget swing
A $100,000 national salary carries the purchasing power of about $97,510 here; matching a $100K lifestyle takes roughly $102,554.
What the Numbers Mean for Philadelphia
Philadelphia ranks #50 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the top quartile for cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 102.6, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 2.6% more expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Philadelphia's most and least expensive categories — services at 114.4 versus goods at 96.8 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $97,510 inside Philadelphia, while a household needs roughly $102,554 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 113.1 — 13.1% above the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Philadelphia's overall index has fallen by 3.9 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 96.8 and services at 114.4, meaning everyday spending in Philadelphia is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Philadelphia vs every U.S. metro
Where this metro sits in the national cost distribution
103 Top 13% higher than 87% of 387 US metros
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities · 2024
Philadelphia cost breakdown
BEA RPP by category — 100 = national average
- Rents
Rents
113.1 RPP
- Services
Services
114.4 RPP
- Overall
Overall
102.6 RPP
- Goods
Goods
96.8 RPP
What this shows Philadelphia's gap from the national average is led by services at 114.4. Goods barely move between metros; the spread you feel is housing and services.
Goods vs. housing — where Philadelphia's cost comes from
Metros near Philadelphia's overall cost, plotted by their goods price (horizontal) and housing price (vertical). Same headline RPP, very different structures.
Crosshairs sit at the group median (goods 96.8, rents 113.1). Philadelphia is pricier than its peers on both housing and goods. These metros sit near Philadelphia's overall cost, yet they spread across the chart — proof that two places at the same headline RPP can have very different goods-vs-housing structures.
Price Index Summary
Goods
96.8
-3.2 below avg
Services
114.4
+14.4 above avg
Rents
113.1
+13.1 above avg
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$102,554
in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$51,277
$75,000 nationally
$76,916
$125,000 nationally
$128,193
$150,000 nationally
$153,831
$200,000 nationally
$205,108
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 3.9 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.4 |
| 2009 | 107.6 |
| 2010 | 106.3 |
| 2011 | 105.3 |
| 2012 | 103.9 |
| 2013 | 101.8 |
| 2014 | 102.4 |
| 2015 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 102.5 |
| 2017 | 104.0 |
| 2018 | 103.2 |
| 2019 | 103.7 |
| 2020 | 102.3 |
| 2021 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 100.7 |
| 2023 | 102.4 |
| 2024 | 102.6 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD's index of 102.6.
Other PA Metros
Compare to Other Metros
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD? ▼
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 102.6, meaning it is 2.6% more expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 96.8, services at 114.4, and rents at 113.1. It ranks #50 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $102,554 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD. Conversely, $100K earned in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD has the purchasing power of $97,510 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD? ▼
Rents in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD are indexed at 113.1, which is 13.1% above the national average. This is significantly higher than typical U.S. rents.
Is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD's overall cost index changed by -3.9 points (from 106.4 to 102.6). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD? ▼
The most expensive category in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is services at 114.4, which is 14.4% above the national average. The most affordable category is goods at 96.8, 3.2% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include Worcester, Bozeman, Mount Vernon-Anacortes. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD's 102.6.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Federal data behind these figures
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — the cost-of-living indices shown on this page. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) — the gross-rent observations BEA uses to build the rents component. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the price program underlying BEA's goods and services price relatives. bls.gov/cpi
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage reference for the labor-driven services component. bls.gov/oes
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — federal 40th-percentile rent cross-reference for the housing component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
