Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Pennsylvania is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. That alone makes it worth considering. Philadelphia leads at an index of 101 with rent at just $1,734/month — 8% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced…
Pennsylvania is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. That alone makes it worth considering. Philadelphia leads at an index of 101 with rent at just $1,734/month — 8% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026. The math checks out.
Straight up: What does daily life actually cost in Philadelphia? Start with the 34% rent-to-income ratio — stretched, especially for single earners. On the category level, Healthcare (index 100) is where the real savings show up, while Housing (index 101) is the line item most likely to surprise newcomers. Income at $60,698 and homes at $229,411 round out a profile that ranks #1 for clear reasons. Below the radar, but not for long.
In plain English: Tax burden isn't just income tax. We combine three layers: state income tax (3.07% in Philadelphia), combined state+local sales tax (6.34%), and effective property tax (1.36%). At 3.07% state income tax, the real differentiator becomes sales and property tax rates. On a $75,000 salary, the estimated take-home in #1 Philadelphia is $55,407/year.
Surprising? Maybe. And broadly, but the data's clear. The math checks out.
Perhaps more importantly, The 3 cities we track in Pennsylvania paint a clearly affordable picture. Average cost index: 96. Median rent: $1,650/month. Household income: $59,413. Pennsylvania is known for Philadelphia's corridor versus Appalachian values — and the data backs that reputation convincingly. An outlier in the best sense.
Bottom line: Philadelphia leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. And from what we can tell, 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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes). No gimmicks — just good numbers.
#1 Ranked: Philadelphia — cost index 101, rent $1,734/mo, income $60,698
3 of 3 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 101 | $1,734 | Details |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 88 | $1,516 | Details |
| 3 | Allentown | 99 | $1,699 | Details |
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Dive into Philadelphia's numbers: cost index 101 — which, honestly, is lower than you'd expect here — (10 points below national average), rent $1,734/month, income $60,698, and a home price of $229,411. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Healthcare is the cheapest category at 100, while Housing runs 101. As a major city with 1,550,542 residents, amenities and job markets are robust (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). Surprising? Maybe. But the data's clear.
303,255 residents · Pennsylvania
So, Pittsburgh. Cost index of 88, rent at $1,516/month. It's lower than the national average. Median income is $64,137, which is below the national median. Not the most exciting stat, but it matters (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
124,880 residents · Pennsylvania
Allentown comes in at #3. Rent is $1,699 a month. Household income is $53,403. The cost of living index is 99. That alone makes it worth considering (not adjusted for inflation, but still telling). A real contender.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Philadelphia | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $45,785 |
2Pittsburgh | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $45,785 |
3Allentown | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $45,785 |
Total tax burden = state income tax rate + combined sales tax rate + effective property tax rate. We rank cities from lowest combined burden to highest. Keep in mind property tax and sales tax are local-level, so two cities in the same state can differ meaningfully. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
Philadelphia ranks #1 in Pennsylvania for this analysis with a cost index of 101 and median income of $60,698.
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 101 and rent of $1,734/mo, while Allentown (ranked #3) has a cost index of 99 and rent of $1,699/mo — a 2-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.
Pennsylvania has a 3.07% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.34%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.36%.
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.