Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Wilmington?

Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $41,000 in Wilmington.

Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Wilmington?

Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax).

Philadelphia vs Wilmington Cost of Living 2026

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/mo est.

Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 9% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA

Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio

$1,126

$1,103

+2% in Philadelphia, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,189

$1,024

+14% in Philadelphia, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,394

$1,213

+13% in Philadelphia, PA

3 Bedroom

$1,406

$1,394

+1% in Philadelphia, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$232,400

$224,500

+3% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income

$60,698

$55,269

+9% in Philadelphia, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$54,310

about equal

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.1 yr

37.0 yr

+1.9 yr in Wilmington, DE

Homeownership

52.3%

46.0%

+6.3 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.6%

33.1%

+1.5 pp in Philadelphia, PA

Avg Commute

32.0 min

23.0 min

+9.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

917.1

1,138.2

+24% in Wilmington, DE

Property Crime

4,615.3

3,182.4

+31% 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

54.9°F

+2.2°F in Philadelphia, PA

Annual Precipitation

48.5 in

43.1 in

+5.4 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$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

19.4

+10% in Philadelphia, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$19.17

$22.51

+17% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE

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 / DE)

None

+6.0 pp in PA

Income Tax (top rate)

3.07%

6.60%

+3.5 pp in DE

Philadelphia vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Wilmington?: Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Wilmington?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Wilmington?: Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).