Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,490/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,400 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,490 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 26% higher in Raleigh, NC. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,301
+16% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,323
+11% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,462
+5% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,715
+22% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$377,800
+63% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$82,424
+36% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,990
+4% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.7 yr
+0.4 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
51.2%
+1.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
52.9%
+18.3 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
32.0 min
23.4 min
+8.6 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
916.8
491.5
+46% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,614.3
2,838
+38% 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
57.1°F
60.6°F
+3.5°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
46.0 in
+2.5 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$4.30/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$1.25
+50% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
20.9
16.0
+24% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.67
$17.50
+5% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.16
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.73
+10% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.19
+3% in Philadelphia, PA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.56
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$1.90
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.61
+10% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / NC)
6%
4.75%
+1.3 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
3.99%
+0.9 pp in NC

Philadelphia vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Raleigh?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Raleigh, NC's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Raleigh?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).