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Cost of living
in Philadelphia
$3,014
Average cost per month
Distribution of expenses
Housing
42%Healthcare
12%Groceries
14%Utilities
10%Transit
4%Other
17%
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
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What makes Philadelphia special?
Philadelphia is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, and Independence Hall still stands among its dozens of national landmarks. Set along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, the city now runs largely on universities, hospitals, and biotech research. North Philadelphia neighborhoods such as Fairhill are home to one of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the United States.
Monthly costs in Philadelphia
What everyday life costs in each city, side by side.
A full-time minimum-wage job in Philadelphia pays about $1,257 a month, $1,757 short of these costs.
| Total | |
|---|---|
| Housing | $1,280 |
| Healthcare | $364 |
| Groceries | $427 |
| Utilities | $316 |
| Transit | $116 |
| Other | $511 |
Estimated monthly costs for one adult: typical rent across the metro area, USDA's moderate-cost food plan and U.S. government spending data — a typical budget, not a minimum.
Sources, updated September 2026: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (Regional Price Parities, 2024); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys, 2024; Consumer Price Index); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Food Plans, July 2026); Federal Communications Commission (Urban Rate Survey, 2026); U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Fair Market Rents, FY2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (weekly retail gasoline prices); official fare pages of each city's transit agency; Latin America: crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, used for reference.
Life in Philadelphia
A few things that make Philadelphia more than a number.
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The birthplace of American independence.
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Compare Philadelphia with…
Side-by-side monthly costs for Philadelphia and each city in the tool.
- Barranquilla
- Bogotá
- Bucaramanga
- Cali
- Caracas
- Cartagena
- Cúcuta
- Cuenca
- Guayaquil
- Lima
- Medellín
- Pereira
- Quito
- Valencia
Cost of living in other US cities
Monthly costs for one person, city by city.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Philadelphia?
About $3,014 a month for one adult, including rent for a one-bedroom apartment ($1,280). That covers housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending.
How much does a couple need to live in Philadelphia?
About $4,394 a month for two adults sharing a one-bedroom apartment. Rent and home internet are shared, so two people pay less than double.
What is the typical rent in Philadelphia?
A one-bedroom apartment rents for about $1,280 a month, a two-bedroom for about $1,393 and a three-bedroom for about $1,720. These are rents only; utilities are counted separately.
How much are groceries and utilities in Philadelphia?
For one adult, groceries run about $427 a month and utilities about $316, including home internet.
How much does transportation cost in Philadelphia?
About $116 a month for one adult.
Can you live on minimum wage in Philadelphia?
A full-time minimum-wage job in Philadelphia ($7.25 an hour) pays about $1,257 a month before taxes. Typical costs for one adult there are about $3,014 a month. Add your own income on this page to see what would be left.
Is Philadelphia expensive compared with other U.S. cities?
Of the 15 U.S. cities in this tool, Philadelphia is number 12 by monthly cost for one adult (1 is the most expensive).
How is the cost of living measured?
We add up typical monthly costs for one adult in six categories: housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, transit and other everyday spending. U.S. figures are calculated from government data (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD and the Energy Information Administration) plus transit agencies' published fares. Latin American figures come from crowdsourced cost-of-living platforms, and their healthcare costs are a modeled estimate. Minimum wages are each city's local rate where it has one, otherwise the state rate published by the U.S. Department of Labor. Figures were last updated in 2026.
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