Cost of Living: Chicago vs Philadelphia
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Chicago compared to Philadelphia?
In Chicago, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $91K in Philadelphia. That means Philadelphia offers 10% 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
$91K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $91K in Philadelphia vs $100K in Chicago
Chicago
73.1
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Philadelphia
66.2
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Philadelphia is 9% cheaper than Chicago
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Chicago and Philadelphia, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Chicago median | Philadelphia median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $139K | $123K | roughly equal |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $66K | $73K | Philadelphia wins by 21% |
| Data Scientists | $134K | $97K | Chicago wins by 20% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $191K | $161K | Chicago wins by 7% |
| Accountants and Auditors | $107K | $111K | Philadelphia wins by 14% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.91x). 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 Chicago vs Philadelphia?
A: Chicago is approximately 10% more expensive than Philadelphia, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Philadelphia is equivalent to about $110K in Chicago. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Chicago to match $100,000 in Philadelphia?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Philadelphia, you would need approximately $110K in Chicago. 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 Chicago 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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