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Compare cities โบ Boston vs Philadelphia
Boston vs Philadelphia cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Boston
๐บ๐ธ PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia is 33% cheaper than Boston
Living on $9,338 a month in Boston feels like about $6,015 in Philadelphia โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Cheaper on how many of 20 items?
Boston 2tie 6Philadelphia 12
One day's budget in Boston ($484) lasts 1.4 days in Philadelphia
Compare on YOUR lifestyleSet your rent, eating out, coffee & taxis โ see your real monthly difference ยท free
โบ
Per day
$484 vs $336
Per month
$9,338 vs $6,015
Local meal
$ 23 vs $ 22
$23 vs $22
Taxi 5 km
$ 17 vs $ 15
$17 vs $15
At a glance
FoodPhiladelphia 12% cheaper
Cafรฉs & drinksPhiladelphia 18% cheaper
Transportsimilar
StayPhiladelphia 44% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Philadelphia is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (47%โ), Hotel night (42%โ), Cocktail & wine (22%โ)
- Where Boston is clearly cheaper: Half-day tour (18%โ), Transit (17%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Enter a monthly income in Boston to see what gives the same standard of living in Philadelphia. Starts at the average Boston salary.
Travel difficulty
Boston
Philadelphia
Overall
Very easy1.4
Very easy1.4
Rip-offs & haggling
1
1
Language
1
1
Getting around
2
2
Payments
1
1
Safety
2
2
Both cities are about equally easy to travel. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Boston | Philadelphia | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 23$23 | $ 22$22 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 14$14 | $ 12$12 | Philadelphia โ14% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 50$50 | $ 42$42 | Philadelphia โ16% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.8$5.8 | $ 5.1$5.1 | Philadelphia โ12% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 8$8 | $ 6.5$6.5 | Philadelphia โ19% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 18$18 | $ 14$14 | Philadelphia โ22% |
| Bottled water | $ 2.3$2.3 | $ 2$2 | Philadelphia โ13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.8$2.8 | $ 2.8$2.8 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 17$17 | $ 15$15 | Philadelphia โ12% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 11$11 | $ 9$9 | Philadelphia โ18% |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.4$2.4 | $ 2.9$2.9 | Boston โ17% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 300$300 | $ 175$175 | Philadelphia โ42% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 2,900$2,900 | $ 1,550$1,550 | Philadelphia โ47% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 4$4 | similar |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 30$30 | $ 25$25 | Philadelphia โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 32$32 | $ 33$33 | similar |
| Massage1 hour | $ 110$110 | $ 90$90 | Philadelphia โ18% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 45$45 | $ 55$55 | Boston โ18% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | $ 30$30 | $ 30$30 | similar |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
Compare on your own lifestyle in the appSet your rent, eating out, coffee and taxis โ see your real monthly difference and live traveler prices. No sign-up.
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FAQ
Which is cheaper, Boston or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is 33% cheaper than Boston. Daily budget $484 vs $336; a month $9,338 vs $6,015.
Which is easier to travel, Boston or Philadelphia?
About the same: Boston 1.4/5, Philadelphia 1.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Boston and Philadelphia?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Boston is about $9,338 and Philadelphia about $6,015 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.
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