Is Philadelphia cheaper than Austin?

Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $1,729 in Austin — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $93,658 in Austin, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Austin?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Austin — 71% 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, Philadelphia or Austin?

Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Philadelphia — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

New search

City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Austin, TX

Philadelphia, PA versus Austin, TX 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 $1,397 a month in Philadelphia and $1,729 in Austin, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $93,658. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Austin takes job market and schools. The widest gap is typical weather, where Philadelphia leads by 80% — 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 Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Austin do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Austin reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Austin report

Philadelphia, PA

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

Austin, TX

Rent: $1,729/mo
Median income: $93,658
Crime index: 109
Schools: A
Weather: 90°F

Rent

19% cheaper

Philadelphia rent is 19% cheaper than Austin

Philadelphia

Winner

$1,397/mo

Austin

$1,729/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,729 in Austin, so Philadelphia is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,984 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.

Median income

51% higher

Austin's median income is 51% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$61,953

Austin

Winner

$93,658

What this means for your life

Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Austin — about $31,705 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, Austin 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

71% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 71% lower than Austin

Philadelphia

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Austin

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 32 versus 109 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 71% 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. Austin can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Austin's school scores are 5% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Austin

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Austin grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Philadelphia — school scores run 5% higher in Austin. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Philadelphia is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

80% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 80% more comfortable than Austin

Philadelphia

Winner

74°F typical

Austin

90°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 80% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Philadelphia and 90°F in Austin. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Austin reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Philadelphia is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Austin can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% 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.

Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (74°F) beat Austin on this page's weather index by 80%. Austin may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Philadelphia is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 71% lower than Austin (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 →

Fit check

Who should choose Austin

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Austin is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 51% higher here ($93,658). Start with Austin if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Parents — or anyone planning kids in the next few years — should weight Austin first. School scores run 5% higher (A vs A-). Philadelphia only wins the school argument if you already have a specific campus in mind that beats this composite.

Open the Austin report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Austin, called

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

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

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Austin FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Austin?: Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $1,729 in Austin — 19% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $93,658 in Austin, so Austin has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Austin?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 109 in Austin — 71% 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, Philadelphia or Austin?: Austin has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Philadelphia — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

Ready to move to Philadelphia?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps