CostIndexUSA

Denver, CO vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CO
Denver
105.8
overall index
$1,850/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Philadelphia is slightly cheaper than Denver — 3.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Denver, you would need $77,600 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing23.0%
Denver
146.9
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries4.2%
Denver
101
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Denver
104.4
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+3.6%
Denver
94.5
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+30.1%
Denver
87.9
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Denver to see what you'd need to earn in Philadelphia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$77,600
$2,400 less needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 105.8) = salary × 0.9698. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Denver, CO

Median Home Price
$559,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
146.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
25.2×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Denver has 23.0% lower housing costs compared to Philadelphia.

Income & Job Market

Denver, CO

Median Household Income
$103,100
Per Capita Income
$58,800
Unemployment Rate
3.6%
Population
715,522
Top Industries
TechnologyAerospaceEnergyHealthcareTourism

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Denver, CO
4.6×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.