Is New York cheaper than Philadelphia?

No. Philadelphia is cheaper: typical rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,821 in New York — 23% lower. Median household income is $80,483 in New York compared with $61,953 in Philadelphia, so New York has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, New York or Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 98 in New York — 67% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, New York or Philadelphia?

School composites are close: A- in New York and A- in Philadelphia. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

New York, NY vs Philadelphia, PA

New York, NY versus Philadelphia, PA is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,821 a month in New York and $1,397 in Philadelphia, and median household income lands at $80,483 versus $61,953. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

New York takes job market and weather, while Philadelphia takes affordability and safety. The widest gap is crime index, where Philadelphia leads by 67% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in New York can feel further apart than New York and Philadelphia do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the New York and Philadelphia reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full New York report Full Philadelphia report

New York, NY

Rent: $1,821/mo
Median income: $80,483
Crime index: 98
Schools: A-
Weather: 73°F

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,397/mo
Median income: $61,953
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 74°F

Rent

23% cheaper

Philadelphia rent is 23% cheaper than New York

New York

$1,821/mo

Philadelphia

Winner

$1,397/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,821 in New York, so Philadelphia is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $424/month back in your pocket — $5,088/year. Over five years that's $25,440 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in New York, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Philadelphia is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

30% higher

New York's median income is 30% higher than Philadelphia

New York

Winner

$80,483

Philadelphia

$61,953

What this means for your life

Median household income is $80,483 in New York versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 30% higher in New York — about $18,530 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, New York is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

67% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 67% lower than New York

New York

98 (100 = avg)

Philadelphia

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 32 versus 98 in New York (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 67% lower in Philadelphia. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Philadelphia is the easier city. New York can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

New York and Philadelphia are about even on school scores.

New York

A- · 84/100

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in New York, A- in Philadelphia). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

3% more comfortable

New York weather is 3% more comfortable than Philadelphia

New York

Winner

73°F typical

Philadelphia

74°F typical

What this means for your life

New York scores 3% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 73°F in New York and 74°F in Philadelphia. New York reads as warm weather most of the year; Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Philadelphia's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, New York is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose New York

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 30% higher ($80,483), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 73°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the New York report →

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy

Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 23% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 67% lower than New York (32 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Bottom line

New York vs Philadelphia, called

If safety is your priority, Philadelphia is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, New York pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Philadelphia offers the better overall package.

Common questions

New York vs Philadelphia FAQ

Is New York cheaper than Philadelphia?: No. Philadelphia is cheaper: typical rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,821 in New York — 23% lower. Median household income is $80,483 in New York compared with $61,953 in Philadelphia, so New York has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, New York or Philadelphia?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 98 in New York — 67% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, New York or Philadelphia?: School composites are close: A- in New York and A- in Philadelphia. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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