Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Salem?

Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Salem?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $40,000 in Salem.

Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Salem?

Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax).

Philadelphia vs Salem Cost of Living 2026

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

Salem

Oregon

$1,170/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 $1,170 in Salem, OR. Overall, Salem, OR is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $71,900 in Salem, OR — about 16% higher in Salem, OR. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA

Salem, OR

Rent

Studio

$1,126

$1,075

+5% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,189

$989

+17% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,394

$1,337

+4% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,778

+26% in Salem, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,400

$382,400

+65% in Salem, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$60,698

$71,900

+18% in Salem, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

$55,310

+2% in Salem, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

35.7 yr

+0.6 yr in Salem, OR

Homeownership

52.3%

55.7%

+3.4 pp in Salem, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.6%

31.4%

+3.2 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

32.0 min

22.4 min

+9.6 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

917.1

540.6

+41% in Philadelphia, PA

Property Crime

4,615.3

2,878.6

+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

53.0°F

+4.1°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

39.7 in

+8.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.09/gal

+32% in Salem, OR

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

16.3

+25% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$20.59

+7% in Salem, OR

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Salem, OR

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Salem, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Salem, OR

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 / OR)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

9.90%

+6.8 pp in OR

Philadelphia vs Salem — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Salem?: Salem, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,170 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Salem?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $40,000 in Salem.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Salem?: Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Salem under Oregon's (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no 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).