Living Cost Compare
Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 20% higher in Philadelphia, PA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,111
$1,126
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$978
$1,189
+22% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,386
$1,394
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,695
$1,406
+17% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$337,800
$232,400
+31% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$48,416
$60,698
+25% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$54,310
+12% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.8 yr
35.1 yr
+0.3 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
24.1%
52.3%
+28.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
17.4%
34.6%
+17.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
33.2 min
32.0 min
+1.2 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
582.5
917.1
+57% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,961.8
4,615.3
+135% 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
54.9°F
57.1°F
+2.2°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
46.3 in
48.5 in
+2.3 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/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)
23.3
21.6
+7% in Newark, NJ
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.93
$19.17
+20% 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 (NJ / PA)
6.625%
6%
+0.6 pp in NJ
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
3.07%
+7.7 pp in NJ

Newark vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Philadelphia?
Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Philadelphia?
Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).