City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Richmond, VA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 4.8% higher than in Richmond, VA. Someone earning $100,000 in Richmond, VA would need about $104,800 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA and $1,507 in Richmond, VA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,866 a year higher in Richmond, VA than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −5.2% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Richmond, VA ($117,284 → $111,183), while prices change by −4.6%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.7% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
- Richmond, VA: price level 97.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Philadelphia, PA | Richmond, VA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 97.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,421 in Richmond | $104,799 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,507/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,244 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,936 (VA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 24% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $51,460 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Richmond, VA |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Richmond, VA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Richmond, VA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Richmond |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 99.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 96.8 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 89.2 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 98.6 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 97.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Richmond, VA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$1,866/yr.
84 Strong offer
Richmond, VA → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.6%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$1,866/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Richmond, VA is in Richmond, VA. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Richmond, VA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Richmond, VA | Real change, Philadelphia → Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $64,475 | −0.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $78,009 | −0.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $93,499 | −0.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $111,183 | −0.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $131,385 | −0.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Richmond, VA | Richmond pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $61,290 | $64,231 (−18.2%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $132,120 | $138,460 (+4.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $84,220 | $88,262 (+2.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $93,580 | $98,071 (−3.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.