City comparison
Norwich, CT vs Philadelphia, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.1% higher than in Norwich, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Norwich, CT would need about $102,100 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,496 a month in Norwich, CT and $1,520 in Philadelphia, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $855 a year higher in Norwich, CT than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −2.3% moving from Norwich, CT to Philadelphia, PA ($120,094 → $117,284), while prices change by +2.1%. Net effect of the transfer: −4.3% in real buying power.
- Norwich, CT: price level 100.4 (about average)
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Norwich, CT | Philadelphia, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.4 | 102.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,100 in Philadelphia | $97,944 in Norwich |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,496/mo | $1,520/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $57,370 | $54,310 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
Rent areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT MSA and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA. Metro areas: Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT and Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Norwich | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 93.7 | 113.1 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 148.6 | 114.4 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 103.1 |
| Overall | 100.4 | 102.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Norwich, CT → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$855/yr.
62 Fair offer
Philadelphia, PA → Norwich, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.1%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$855/yr.
75 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Norwich, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Philadelphia, PA is in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD. The last column shows what a transfer from Norwich, CT to Philadelphia, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Norwich, CT | Philadelphia, PA | Real change, Norwich → Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $68,013 | −4.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $82,289 | −4.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $98,630 | −4.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $117,284 | −4.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $138,595 | −4.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Norwich, CT | Philadelphia, PA | Philadelphia pay in Norwich dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $83,840 | $78,570 | $76,954 (−8.2%) |
| Software Developers | $123,780 | $133,040 | $130,304 (+5.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $82,530 | $85,990 | $84,222 (+2.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,330 | $101,180 | $99,099 (−2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.