Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,400/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,020/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 $2,020 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 50% higher in Seattle, WA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,638
+45% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,858
+56% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$2,359
+69% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$2,918
+108% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$912,100
+292% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$121,984
+101% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$72,610
+34% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
35.5 yr
+0.4 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
52.3%
44.2%
+8.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
67.5%
+32.9 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
26.6 min
+5.4 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
916.8
787.3
+14% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,614.3
5,107.9
+11% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+3.6°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
37.7 in
+10.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.30/gal
$5.77/gal
+34% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
$2.75
+10% in Seattle, WA

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
20.9
14.4
+31% in Philadelphia, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.67
$17.32
+4% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.14
$4.37
+6% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.10
+9% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.25
$2.25
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.23
+5% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$2.02
$2.14
+6% in Seattle, WA
Bananas (lb)
$0.68
$0.74
+9% in Seattle, WA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Philadelphia vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Seattle?
Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,400 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Seattle, WA's $2,020, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Seattle?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).