Living Cost Compare
Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 36% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Boston, MA
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,890
$1,126
+40% in Boston, MA
1 Bedroom
$1,978
$1,189
+40% in Boston, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,155
$1,394
+35% in Boston, MA
3 Bedroom
$2,234
$1,406
+37% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$710,400
$232,400
+67% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$94,755
$60,698
+36% in Boston, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$54,310
+18% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.2 yr
35.1 yr
+1.9 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
35.4%
52.3%
+16.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
54.1%
34.6%
+19.5 pp in Boston, MA
Avg Commute
30.2 min
32.0 min
+1.8 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
630.2
917.1
+46% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
2,030.8
4,615.3
+127% in Philadelphia, PA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
57.1°F
+5.6°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
48.5 in
+4.7 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.95/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.8
21.6
+25% in Boston, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.39
$19.17
+39% in Boston, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / PA)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in MA
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
3.07%
+5.9 pp in MA

Boston vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Philadelphia?
Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).