Cost of Living: Boston vs Philadelphia
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Boston compared to Philadelphia?
In Boston, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $80K in Philadelphia. That means Philadelphia offers 26% more spending power. Your money goes further in Philadelphia.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Philadelphia
$80K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $80K in Philadelphia vs $100K in Boston
Boston
83.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Philadelphia
66.2
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Philadelphia is 20% cheaper than Boston
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Boston and Philadelphia, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Boston median | Philadelphia median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $153K | $123K | roughly equal |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $71K | $73K | Philadelphia wins by 28% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $199K | $161K | roughly equal |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $122K | $120K | Philadelphia wins by 23% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $141K | $131K | Philadelphia wins by 17% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.8x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Boston vs Philadelphia?
A: Boston is approximately 26% more expensive than Philadelphia, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Philadelphia is equivalent to about $126K in Boston. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Boston to match $100,000 in Philadelphia?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Philadelphia, you would need approximately $126K in Boston. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Boston and Philadelphia?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, roughly equal when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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