Is Philadelphia cheaper than Seattle?

Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 31% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Seattle?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle — 72% 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 Seattle?

Seattle 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.

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Seattle, WA

Philadelphia, PA versus Seattle, WA 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 $2,030 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $61,953 versus $123,860. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes affordability and safety, while Seattle takes job market and schools. The widest gap is median income, where Seattle leads by 100% — 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 Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Seattle report

Philadelphia, PA

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

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,030/mo
Median income: $123,860
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

31% cheaper

Philadelphia rent is 31% cheaper than Seattle

Philadelphia

Winner

$1,397/mo

Seattle

$2,030/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $2,030 in Seattle, so Philadelphia is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $633/month back in your pocket — $7,596/year. Over five years that's $37,980 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 Seattle, 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

100% higher

Seattle's median income is 100% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$61,953

Seattle

Winner

$123,860

What this means for your life

Median household income is $123,860 in Seattle versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 100% higher in Seattle — about $61,907 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, Seattle 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

72% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 72% lower than Seattle

Philadelphia

Winner

32 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 72% 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. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Philadelphia — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. 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

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Seattle are about even on typical weather.

Philadelphia

74°F typical

Seattle

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Outdoor comfort is close between Philadelphia and Seattle. Typical temperatures sit around 74°F in Philadelphia and 66°F in Seattle. You are choosing a flavor of season, not paradise versus misery. Visit in the season you currently like least. A long weekend in October lies; a week in July or January does not.

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 31% 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 72% lower than Seattle (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 Seattle

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Seattle is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 100% higher here ($123,860). Start with Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Seattle, called

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

If safety matters more to you, Philadelphia pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Seattle FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Seattle?: Yes. Typical rent in Philadelphia is $1,397 a month versus $2,030 in Seattle — 31% cheaper. Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia compared with $123,860 in Seattle, so Seattle has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Seattle?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 32 versus 116 in Seattle — 72% 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 Seattle?: Seattle 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.

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