City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Phoenix, AZ
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Philadelphia, PA (102.6) and Phoenix, AZ (103.3, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA goes as far as $100,700 in Phoenix, AZ.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA and $1,583 in Phoenix, AZ.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $779 a year higher in Philadelphia, PA than in Phoenix, AZ.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.1% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ ($117,284 → $111,338), while prices change by +0.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.8% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
- Phoenix, AZ: price level 103.3 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Philadelphia, PA | Phoenix, AZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 103.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,743 in Phoenix | $99,262 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,583/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,889 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $2,291 (AZ) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 25% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $51,380 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Phoenix-Mesa, AZ |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ MSA. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 121.2 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 95.0 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 93.3 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 104.0 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 103.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Phoenix, AZ
Roughly even
Buying power −0.7%; rent takes 25% of take-home; state tax −$779/yr.
66 Fair offer
Phoenix, AZ → Philadelphia, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$779/yr.
71 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Phoenix, AZ is in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Phoenix, AZ | Real change, Philadelphia → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $64,564 | −5.8% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $78,117 | −5.8% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $93,629 | −5.8% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $111,338 | −5.8% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $131,568 | −5.8% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Phoenix, AZ | Phoenix pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $59,180 | $58,744 (−25.2%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $131,750 | $130,778 (−1.7%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $80,820 | $80,224 (−6.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $100,830 | $100,086 (−1.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.