Living Cost Compare
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 11% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

New Haven, CT
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,159
$1,126
+3% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,275
$1,189
+7% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,473
$1,394
+5% in New Haven, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,636
$1,406
+14% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$249,000
$232,400
+7% in New Haven, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$53,771
$60,698
+13% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,060
$54,310
+10% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
31.9 yr
35.1 yr
+3.2 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
28.4%
52.3%
+23.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
34.6%
+3.1 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
21.0 min
32.0 min
+11.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
536.3
917.1
+71% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
3,601.6
4,615.3
+28% 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
52.2°F
57.1°F
+4.9°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
47.1 in
48.5 in
+1.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
21.7
+11% in New Haven, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$26.08
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

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 (CT / PA)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.07%
+3.9 pp in CT

New Haven vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,430 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Philadelphia?
New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).