New York City vs Philadelphia
Side-by-side comparison of cost of living, state income tax, housing estimates, and salary equivalents between New York City, NY and Philadelphia, PA.
New York City, NY
COL Index
187
Monthly Budget
$9,350
State Tax
10.9%
Population
8.6M
Philadelphia, PA
COL Index
102
Monthly Budget
$5,100
State Tax
3.1%
Population
1.6M
New York City is 83% more expensive than Philadelphia
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Estimated monthly costs for a typical household in each city.
| Category | New York City | Philadelphia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | $3,803 | $1,700 | +$2,103 |
| Groceries | $1,102 | $660 | +$442 |
| Transport | $1,426 | $814 | +$612 |
| Healthcare | $644 | $406 | +$238 |
| Utilities | $561 | $306 | +$255 |
| Other | $2,035 | $1,219 | +$816 |
| Total | $9,350 | $5,100 | +$4,250 |
Tax Comparison on $100K Salary
Estimated annual taxes for a single filer earning $100,000 in each city.
| Component | New York City (NY) | Philadelphia (PA) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | $0 |
| State Tax | $5,332 | $3,070 | +$2,262 |
| FICA | $7,650 | $7,650 | $0 |
| Total Tax | $26,152 | $23,890 | +$2,262 |
| Take-Home Pay | $73,848 | $76,110 | -$2,262 |
Salary Equivalent
What a New York City salary is worth in Philadelphia (and vice versa), adjusted for cost of living.
| New York City Salary | Equivalent in Philadelphia | Philadelphia Salary | Equivalent in New York City |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $27,273 | $50,000 | $91,667 |
| $75,000 | $40,909 | $75,000 | $137,500 |
| $100,000 | $54,545 | $100,000 | $183,333 |
| $150,000 | $81,818 | $150,000 | $275,000 |
New York City vs Philadelphia: What the Numbers Say
Philadelphia is the cheaper of the two, at a cost-of-living index of 102 versus 187 for New York City. On our model's $5,000 national-average monthly budget, that works out to about $4,250 more per month (83% more) in New York City. The largest single gap is housing, at roughly $2,103 per month.
On state income tax alone (single filer, our bracket data): at $75,000 you would owe $2,303 in Pennsylvania versus $3,885 in New York; at $150,000 it is $4,605 versus $8,282.
Break-even: a $100,000 salary in Philadelphia leaves about $76,110 a year after federal, state, and FICA tax. To keep the same purchasing power in New York City, you would need about $139,535 after tax, which means a gross salary near $202,716. This assumes a single filer taking the standard deduction and uses one index for all spending, so treat it as a starting point, not a quote.