Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Richmond

Virginia

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Richmond, VA. Overall, Richmond, VA is roughly 1% 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 $62,671 in Richmond, VA — about 3% higher in Richmond, VA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Richmond, VA

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,183
+5% in Richmond, VA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,195
+1% in Richmond, VA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,374
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,447
+3% in Richmond, VA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$328,100
+41% in Richmond, VA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$62,671
+3% in Richmond, VA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,460
+5% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
34.5 yr
+0.6 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
43.5%
+8.8 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
44.1%
+9.5 pp in Richmond, VA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
22.1 min
+9.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
349
+62% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
3,240.2
+30% 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
58.9°F
+1.8°F in Richmond, VA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
43.6 in
+4.9 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 — SEPTA vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
17.6
+18% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$23.66
+23% in Richmond, VA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Richmond, VA
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Philadelphia, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Philadelphia, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Philadelphia, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / VA)
6%
5.3%
+0.7 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
5.75%
+2.7 pp in VA

Philadelphia vs Richmond — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Richmond?
Richmond, VA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% 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 Richmond?
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 Richmond.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Richmond?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Richmond under Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.75% and a 5.3% 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).