City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Arlington | Philadelphia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $2,227/mo | $1,250/mo | 78.2% higher in A |
| Median home value | $833,300 | $215,500 | 286.7% higher in A |
| Median household income | $137,387 | $57,537 | 138.8% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 101.9 | 98.9 | 3.0% higher in A |
| Utilities index | 87.6 | 91.5 | 4.2% lower in A |
| Transportation index | 90.0 | 88.3 | 1.9% higher in A |
| Healthcare index | 92.8 | 98.8 | 6.1% lower in A |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Arlington, you'd need $56,129 in Philadelphia to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Philadelphia, PA is about 43.9% cheaper overall than Arlington, VA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 44% lower in Philadelphia than in Arlington. If you earn $80,000 in Arlington, you'd need about $44,903 in Philadelphia to keep the same standard of living.