City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Waterbury, CT
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 2.8% higher than in Waterbury, CT. Someone earning $100,000 in Waterbury, CT would need about $102,800 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA and $1,445 in Waterbury, CT.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $855 a year higher in Waterbury, CT than in Philadelphia, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +6.9% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Waterbury, CT ($117,284 → $125,431), while prices change by −2.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.9% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
- Waterbury, CT: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Philadelphia, PA | Waterbury, CT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $97,293 in Waterbury | $102,782 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,445/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $75,255 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,925 (CT) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 23% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $51,440 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Waterbury-Shelton, CT MSA. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Waterbury-Shelton, CT.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 89.1 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.3 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 147.6 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 102.7 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Waterbury, CT
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.8%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$855/yr.
77 Strong offer
Waterbury, CT → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$855/yr.
60 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Waterbury, CT is in New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Waterbury, CT at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Waterbury, CT | Real change, Philadelphia → Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $72,737 | +9.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $88,005 | +9.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $105,481 | +9.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $125,431 | +9.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $148,222 | +9.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Waterbury, CT | Waterbury pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $79,640 | $81,856 (+4.2%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $131,290 | $134,943 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $93,010 | $95,598 (+11.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $101,690 | $104,519 (+3.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.