Is Philadelphia cheaper than Raleigh?

Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Raleigh?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Philadelphia and 32 in Raleigh (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Raleigh?

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

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Raleigh, NC

Philadelphia, PA versus Raleigh, NC 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 $1,572 in Raleigh, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $85,395. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes affordability and weather, while Raleigh takes job market. The widest gap is median income, where Raleigh leads by 38% — 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 Raleigh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Raleigh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Raleigh report

Philadelphia, PA

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

Raleigh, NC

Rent: $1,572/mo
Median income: $85,395
Crime index: 32
Schools: A-
Weather: 78°F

Rent

11% cheaper

Philadelphia rent is 11% cheaper than Raleigh

Philadelphia

Winner

$1,397/mo

Raleigh

$1,572/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,572 in Raleigh, so Philadelphia is 11% 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 $2,100 — 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 Raleigh.

Median income

38% higher

Raleigh's median income is 38% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$61,953

Raleigh

Winner

$85,395

What this means for your life

Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Raleigh — about $23,442 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, Raleigh 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

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Raleigh are about even on crime index.

Philadelphia

32 (100 = avg)

Raleigh

32 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia and Raleigh post similar crime indexes (32 vs 32, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Raleigh are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Raleigh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Raleigh). 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

13% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 13% more comfortable than Raleigh

Philadelphia

Winner

74°F typical

Raleigh

78°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 13% 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 78°F in Raleigh. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Raleigh reads as warm weather most of the year. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Raleigh's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

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 11% 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 Raleigh on this page's weather index by 13%. Raleigh may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Fit check

Who should choose Raleigh

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Raleigh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 38% higher here ($85,395). Start with Raleigh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Raleigh report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Raleigh, called

If the job market is your priority, Raleigh is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Philadelphia pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Raleigh FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Raleigh?: Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh — 11% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $85,395 in Raleigh, so Raleigh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Raleigh?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 32 in Philadelphia and 32 in Raleigh (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Raleigh?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Raleigh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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