Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

vs
Rochester

New York

$1,160/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 $1,160 in Rochester, NY. Overall, Rochester, NY is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $46,628 in Rochester, NY — about 23% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Rochester, NY

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$750
+33% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$857
+28% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,114
+20% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,240
+12% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$120,600
+48% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$46,628
+23% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$51,210
+6% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.5 yr
+1.6 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
37.2%
+15.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
29.9%
+4.7 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
18.9 min
+13.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
690
+25% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
3,533.4
+23% 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
48.2°F
+8.9°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
34.3 in
+14.2 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.04/gal
+5% in Rochester, NY

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
29.9
+39% in Rochester, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.74
+19% in Rochester, NY

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 (PA / NY)
6%
4%
+2.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
10.90%
+7.8 pp in NY

Philadelphia vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Rochester?
Rochester, NY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,160 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $34,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Rochester?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Rochester under New York's (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).