Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

Cost of Living Comparison

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington

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

To match your lifestyle in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, you'd need:

$75,310

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington 117.8
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler 124.3
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington $34,849
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler $31,624

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$8,626
Rent (2BR) -$22,068
Net Income $39,306

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

$65,130

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $1,733 more per year in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compared to Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler. You'd pay $1,385 more in taxes in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, while housing costs 2% more. The cost of living in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington is 18% above avg, while Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is 24% above avg, making Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington feels like earning $75,310 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler ($26,393 vs $11,297 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Schools
1,334
1,339
Enrollment
856,956
790,198
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
9.1%
27.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Institutions
120
81
In-State Tuition
$26,393
$11,297
Out-of-State
$28,437
$14,043
Grad Rate
58.3%
52.4%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington or Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler more expensive?

Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is more expensive with a cost of living index of 124.3 vs 117.8 (national average = 100).

What salary in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler equals $70,000 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?

You would need to earn approximately $75,310 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington vs Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $21,720 in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington and $22,068 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler—housing is 2% more in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler.