Is Philadelphia cheaper than Wichita?

No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 39% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Wichita has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Wichita?

Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 115 in Wichita — 35% 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 Wichita?

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

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City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Wichita, KS

Philadelphia, PA versus Wichita, KS 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 $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,099 in Wichita, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $60,712. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Philadelphia takes safety and weather, while Wichita takes affordability and job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Philadelphia leads by 40% — 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 Wichita do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Wichita reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Wichita report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,810/mo
Median income: $57,537
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

Wichita, KS

Rent: $1,099/mo
Median income: $60,712
Crime index: 115
Schools: A-
Weather: 85°F

Rent

39% cheaper

Wichita rent is 39% cheaper than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$1,810/mo

Wichita

Winner

$1,099/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,099 a month in Wichita versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Wichita is 39% cheaper. That's roughly $711/month back in your pocket — $8,532/year. Over five years that's $42,660 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 Philadelphia, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Wichita is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

6% higher

Wichita's median income is 6% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$57,537

Wichita

Winner

$60,712

What this means for your life

Median household income is $60,712 in Wichita versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Wichita — about $3,175 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

35% lower crime

Philadelphia's crime index is 35% lower than Wichita

Philadelphia

Winner

75 (100 = avg)

Wichita

115 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia's crime index is 75 versus 115 in Wichita (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Wichita can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Wichita are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Wichita

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

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

40% more comfortable

Philadelphia weather is 40% more comfortable than Wichita

Philadelphia

Winner

75°F typical

Wichita

85°F typical

What this means for your life

Philadelphia scores 40% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 85°F in Wichita. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Wichita 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. Wichita 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

Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (75°F) beat Wichita on this page's weather index by 40%. Wichita 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 35% lower than Wichita (75 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 Wichita

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Wichita is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 39% cheaper here at about $1,099 a month. Choose Wichita if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Wichita is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($60,712). Start with Wichita if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Wichita report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Wichita, called

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

If cost of living matters more to you, Wichita pulls ahead.

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

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Wichita FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Wichita?: No. Wichita is cheaper: typical rent is $1,099 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 39% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $60,712 in Wichita, so Wichita has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Wichita?: Philadelphia is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 75 versus 115 in Wichita — 35% 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 Wichita?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Wichita. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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