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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. And as a general rule, but within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Philadelphia proves it with a cost index of 98, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive lands…
Let's be honest: these cities aren't cheap. And as a general rule, but within that premium market, there are cities where your dollar stretches meaningfully further. Philadelphia proves it with a cost index of 98, and we've ranked all 2 contenders to help you find the best deal in an expensive landscape.
To be honest, So, Philadelphia. Cost index of 98 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — , rent at $1,734/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $60,698, which is below the national median. That's about what we'd expect given the state context.
Bottom line: Philadelphia, PA leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Take it or leave it — the data is what it is. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Philadelphia, PA — cost index 98, rent $1,734/mo, income $60,698
1 of 2 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhiladelphiaPA | 98 | $1,734 | Details |
| 2 | BostonMA | 151 | $3,510 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Here's Philadelphia by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). And in most cases, cost index: 98. Rent: $1,734/month. Income: $60,698/year. Home price: $229,411. Population: 1,550,542. The strongest category is Utilities at 90; the most expensive is Healthcare at 101. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $1,932 per year vs. the national median. That's a margin of safety most budgets don't have.
653,833 residents · Massachusetts
At $3,510/month for rent and a cost index of 151, Boston is pretty much what you'd expect from a larger city in this part of the country. Income is $94,755. It's fine. Not great, not bad.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Philadelphia (ranked #1) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,734/mo, while Boston (ranked #2) has a cost index of 151 and rent of $3,510/mo — a 53-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Philadelphia is $1,734/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $161 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Philadelphia is $229,411, which is 3.8× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.