Living Cost Compare
Columbus

Ohio

$1,250/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,250 in Columbus, OH versus $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Columbus, OH is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $65,327 in Columbus, OH and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% higher in Columbus, OH. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Columbus, OH
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,014
$1,126
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,059
$1,189
+12% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,276
$1,394
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,369
$1,406
+3% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$234,500
$232,400
+1% in Columbus, OH

Income

Median Household Income
$65,327
$60,698
+7% in Columbus, OH
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,340
$54,310
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.0 yr
35.1 yr
+2.1 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
44.3%
52.3%
+8.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
38.2%
34.6%
+3.6 pp in Columbus, OH
Avg Commute
21.8 min
32.0 min
+10.2 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
484.8
916.8
+89% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,092.7
4,614.3
+49% 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
52.7°F
57.1°F
+4.4°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
40.1 in
48.5 in
+8.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.56/gal
$4.30/gal
+6% in Columbus, OH

Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00
$2.50
+25% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
18.8
20.9
+11% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$13.75
$16.67
+21% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.14
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.79
$1.92
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.25
+38% in Columbus, OH
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.97
$6.90
+1% in Columbus, OH
Chicken (lb)
$2.15
$2.02
+6% in Columbus, OH
Bananas (lb)
$0.63
$0.68
+7% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OH / PA)
5.75%
6%
+0.3 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
2.75%
3.07%
+0.3 pp in PA

Columbus vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Columbus or Philadelphia?
Columbus, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,400, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Columbus than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Columbus versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Columbus or Philadelphia?
Columbus is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).