Philadelphia vs Washington
Philadelphia, PA · Washington, DC
Philadelphia is 52% cheaper than Washington overall.
Home Price
Philadelphia: $265,000
Washington: $575,000
Monthly Rent
Philadelphia: $1,350/mo
Washington: $2,195/mo
COL Index
Philadelphia: 101
Washington: 154
Median Income
Philadelphia: $54,800
Washington: $98,700
Side-by-Side Comparison
Median Home Price
Monthly Rent (Median)
Median Household Income
Property Tax Rate
Cost of Living Index
100 = national average
Avg. Commute
Unemployment Rate
Median Age
What This Means For You
Buying Power
A $100,000 salary in Philadelphia has the same purchasing power as $152,475 in Washington — based on each city's cost of living index.
Housing
Homes in Washington are 117% cheaper (-$310,000 less). That's a significant down payment and monthly payment difference.
Renting
Renting in Philadelphia saves you $845/month — $10,140 per year. Median rent: $1,350/mo in Philadelphia vs $2,195/mo in Washington.
Property Taxes
On a median-priced home, Philadelphia owners pay roughly $3,710/year in property taxes vs $3,278/year in Washington. That's a $433 annual difference.
Local Earnings
Median household income is $54,800 in Philadelphia and $98,700 in Washington. Philadelphia residents earn 80% more — but remember to factor in cost of living.
Daily Commute
Average commute is 30 minutes in Philadelphia vs 34 minutes in Washington. Commute times are nearly identical.
Salary Equivalence
To maintain the same lifestyle when moving from Philadelphia to Washington, here's the salary you'd need:
| Salary in Philadelphia | Equivalent in Washington | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $76,238 | +$26,238 |
| $75,000 | $114,356 | +$39,356 |
| $100,000 | $152,475 | +$52,475 |
| $150,000 | $228,713 | +$78,713 |
| $200,000 | $304,950 | +$104,950 |
* Calculated using cost of living indices (national average = 100). Does not account for state income tax differences.
Run the Numbers
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Rent vs Buy
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Cost of Living
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Affordability Calculator
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Property Tax Calculator
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Philadelphia Calculators
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Related Comparisons
Philadelphia vs Washington: Common Questions
Is Philadelphia or Washington cheaper to live in?
Based on cost of living indices, Philadelphia is cheaper overall. Philadelphia has a COL index of 101 while Washington scores 154 (national average = 100).
How do home prices compare between Philadelphia and Washington?
The median home price in Philadelphia is $265,000 vs $575,000 in Washington — a difference of $310,000 (117%).
What salary do I need in Washington to match my Philadelphia income?
Use the salary equivalence table above. For example, a $100K salary in Philadelphia is equivalent to $152,475 in Washington in terms of purchasing power.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Washington has a lower property tax rate (0.57% vs 1.4%). On a median-priced home, that means paying $3,278/year vs $3,710/year.
Cost of living data sourced from Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, and Zillow Research. Tax rates from Tax Foundation and state revenue agencies. Last updated: March 2025.