Boston-Cambridge-Quincy vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Cost of Living Comparison

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$35,292
Net Income $27,467

To match your lifestyle in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, you'd need:

$47,221

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy 148.2
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 117.8
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy $18,528
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington $34,849

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$21,720
Net Income $41,039

To match your lifestyle in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, you'd need:

$101,020

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $13,572 more per year in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compared to Boston-Cambridge-Quincy. You'd pay $0 less in taxes in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, while housing costs 38% less. The cost of living in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy is 48% above avg, while Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington is 18% above avg, making Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy feels like earning $47,221 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington ($31,757 vs $26,393 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Schools
1,212
1,334
Enrollment
654,483
856,956
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
4.7%
9.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Institutions
95
120
In-State Tuition
$31,757
$26,393
Out-of-State
$34,142
$28,437
Grad Rate
63.1%
58.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston-Cambridge-Quincy or Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington more expensive?

Boston-Cambridge-Quincy is more expensive with a cost of living index of 148.2 vs 117.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington equals $70,000 in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy?

You would need to earn approximately $47,221 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy vs Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $35,292 in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy and $21,720 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington—housing is 38% less in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington.