Moving from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia
Your paycheck goes 5.0% further in Philadelphia than in Washington, D.C. Compare taxes, rent, home prices and the cost of the move.
Equal salary in Philadelphia: $118,300
Compare any two of 149 U.S. metro areas. All cities
To keep the same lifestyle, you need about $118,300 in Philadelphia, PA to match $125,000 in Washington, D.C. ($6,700 less), after 2026 taxes and local prices.
Single filer, W-2 salary. Uses Washington, DC and Pennsylvania state income tax; includes Philadelphia resident tax $4,669 (inside city limits).
Washington, D.C. vs Philadelphia: key facts
- Median rent
- $2,037 → $1,567/mo
- Median home value
- $604,800 → $375,100
- Median household income
- $126,244 → $90,850
- Price level (U.S. = 100)
- 108.9 → 102.6
- Natural hazard risk (FEMA)
- Among the highest (82.9 → 94.5 of 100)
Washington, D.C. vs Philadelphia cost of living
The vertical line marks the U.S. average (100).
| Measure | Washington, D.C. | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Overall price level (U.S. = 100) | 108.9 | 102.6 |
| Median rent | $2,037 | $1,567 |
| Income to rent affordably (30%) | $81,480 | $62,680 |
| Median home value | $604,800 | $375,100 |
| Monthly cost to own (20% down) | $3,753 | $2,498 |
| Income needed to buy | $160,826 | $107,073 |
| Median property tax | $5,430 | $5,016 |
| State income tax on $125,000 | $7,657 | $3,838 |
| City income tax (inside city limits) | None | $4,669 |
| Metro population | 6,437,907 | 6,330,422 |
Metro-area figures (Census ACS 2024, BEA 2024). Taxes use each metro's principal state, plus the income tax the principal city charges its residents. Commuters who live elsewhere often pay a nonresident rate, and many suburbs levy their own local tax, so unticking a city's box in the calculator estimates a typical suburban rate for it instead.
- Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia residents pay a 3.735% wage tax on all earnings (from July 1, 2026; 3.74% before). If you live outside Philadelphia but work in the city, you pay the 3.425% nonresident wage tax on those wages instead of your home town's tax. Most Pennsylvania suburbs charge their own earned income tax, usually 1%; the New Jersey suburbs have no local income tax. Take-home figures include the resident tax.
Your yearly budget: Washington, D.C. vs Philadelphia
On a $125,000 salary, taxes, housing, electricity, one car and health insurance for one adult come to $72,877 a year in Washington, D.C. and $67,643 in Philadelphia if you rent: $5,234 less after the move. If you buy the median home, they come to $93,464 and $78,819 ($14,645 less).
Your yearly budget, before vs after
| Yearly cost | Washington, D.C.Before | PhiladelphiaAfter | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and payroll taxes on $125,000, single filer | $35,953 | $36,890 | +$937 |
| Electricity state average bill | $1,359 | $1,742 | +$383 |
| Car insurance one car, state average | $1,677 | $1,155 | -$522 |
| Gas 12,000 miles at 25 mpg | $2,124 | $2,188 | +$64 |
| Health insurance one adult, age 40, own plan before subsidies | $7,320 | $6,864 | -$456 |
| If you rent | |||
| Rent median, 12 months | $24,444 | $18,804 | -$5,640 |
| Total if you rent | $72,877 | $67,643 | -$5,234 |
| If you buy the median home (20% down) | |||
| Mortgage payment median home, 20% down, 6.95% | $38,433 | $23,836 | -$14,597 |
| Property tax median home | $5,430 | $5,016 | -$414 |
| Homeowners insurance state median, with a mortgage | $1,168 | $1,128 | -$40 |
| Total if you buy | $93,464 | $78,819 | -$14,645 |
Taxes: 2026 federal and state rules, plus the principal city's resident income tax where it has one, standard deduction. Rent, home value and property tax: Census ACS 2024 metro-area medians. Mortgage: Freddie Mac 30-year average (6.95%, week of September 17, 2026).
State figures for the principal state: EIA 2024 average residential power bill, NAIC 2023 auto insurance (average per car), Census ACS 2024 homeowners insurance (median for owners with a mortgage; premiums have risen since), AAA regular gas on September 23, 2026, and the KFF 2026 benchmark silver Marketplace premium. Job-based health coverage usually costs you less, and in 2026 incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level can get a premium tax credit.
Not included: sales tax (combined state and local rates are not in our data yet), food, car payments and other spending.
Child care is not in the totals. Full-time center care for one infant averages $26,193 a year in Washington, D.C. and $14,910 in Philadelphia (Child Care Aware of America, 2024 state averages).
Who moves from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia
About 2,416 households (3,420 people) moved from the Washington, D.C. metro area to the Philadelphia metro area in 2022–2023, making Philadelphia the #6 destination for people leaving Washington, D.C. among the 149 metro areas we cover. 2,932 households moved the other way. Their average adjusted gross income was $101,901.
Cost to move from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia
| Moving method (2–3 bedrooms) | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Rental truck (DIY) | $310–$600 |
| Moving container | $1,090–$2,030 |
| Full-service movers | $1,830–$4,860 |
At about 150 miles, this move is shorter than the long-distance routes these ranges are modeled on. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
Natural hazard risk: Washington, D.C. vs Philadelphia
FEMA's National Risk Index rates the Washington, D.C. area among the highest (score 82.9) and the Philadelphia area among the highest (score 94.5), on a 0–100 national percentile scale. Expected yearly losses from natural hazards average $192 vs $339 per resident.
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
The vertical line marks the middle of U.S. counties (50).
Frequently asked questions
Is Philadelphia cheaper than Washington, D.C.?
Overall prices in the Philadelphia area are 5.8% lower than in Washington, D.C. (BEA Regional Price Parities 2024). Median rent is $1,567 vs $2,037 a month, and the median home is $375,100 vs $604,800.
What salary do I need in Philadelphia to match $100,000 in Washington, D.C.?
About $95,400, after 2026 federal taxes and local prices. Uses Washington, DC and Pennsylvania state income tax.
How much does it cost to move from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia?
For a 2–3 bedroom home over about 150 miles: roughly $310–$600 with a rental truck, $1,090–$2,030 with a container, or $1,830–$4,860 with full-service movers. A move this short is often priced by the hour, so quotes can come in lower.
How many people move from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia?
IRS county migration data for 2022–2023 show about 2,416 households (3,420 people) moved from the Washington, D.C. metro area to the Philadelphia metro area, and 2,932 moved the other way.
Related
Where people from Washington, D.C. move
- Washington, D.C. to Baltimore 14,713 households
- Washington, D.C. to New York 7,558 households
- Washington, D.C. to Richmond 3,558 households
- Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles 2,641 households
- Washington, D.C. to Miami 2,452 households
- Washington, D.C. to Virginia Beach 2,130 households
- Washington, D.C. to Boston 2,045 households
- Washington, D.C. to Dallas 1,896 households