Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Reno

Nevada

$1,350/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,350 in Reno, NV. Overall, Reno, NV is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $78,448 in Reno, NV — about 23% higher in Reno, NV. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Reno, NV

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$964
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,206
+1% in Reno, NV
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,518
+9% in Reno, NV
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,885
+34% in Reno, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$498,600
+115% in Reno, NV

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$78,448
+29% in Reno, NV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$49,660
+9% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
37.3 yr
+2.2 yr in Reno, NV
Homeownership
52.3%
49.4%
+2.9 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
35.7%
+1.1 pp in Reno, NV
Avg Commute
32.0 min
20.6 min
+11.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
528.9
+42% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
2,489.3
+46% 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
53.8°F
+3.3°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
7.4 in
+41.1 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.09/gal
+32% in Reno, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
13.6
+37% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$12.09
+37% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Reno, NV
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Reno, NV
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Reno, NV
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / NV)
6%
6.85%
+0.8 pp in NV
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Philadelphia vs Reno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Reno?
Reno, NV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Reno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $48,000 in Reno.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Reno?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Reno under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).