Earn Here, Spend ThereWhat is this money worth over there?
KOOpen app
Journey will show you around
City pricesDaily travel budget & monthly costPrice mapTap a city, see it in your moneyTrip budgetPlan a multi-city trip budgetTravel difficultyEasiest & hardest cities to travelCompareTwo cities side by sideBlogTravel money stories & rankingsCurrencyQuick conversion tablesExpense trackerLog trip costs from a receiptPopular cities
Compare cities โบ Philadelphia vs Washington, D.C.
Philadelphia vs Washington, D.C. cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia
๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.Philadelphia is 19% cheaper than Washington, D.C.
Living on $6,015 a month in Philadelphia feels like about $7,631 in Washington, D.C. โ same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Cheaper on how many of 20 items?
Philadelphia 13tie 4Washington, D.C. 3
One day's budget in Washington, D.C. ($402) lasts 1.2 days in Philadelphia
Compare on YOUR lifestyleSet your rent, eating out, coffee & taxis โ see your real monthly difference ยท free
โบ
Per day
$336 vs $402
Per month
$6,015 vs $7,631
Local meal
$ 22 vs $ 22
$22 vs $22
Taxi 5 km
$ 15 vs $ 14
$15 vs $14
At a glance
FoodPhiladelphia 11% cheaper
Cafรฉs & drinksPhiladelphia 19% cheaper
TransportWashington, D.C. 10% cheaper
StayPhiladelphia 27% cheaper
Funsimilar
- Where Washington, D.C. is clearly cheaper: Transit (22%โ)
- Where Philadelphia is clearly cheaper: Laundry (33%โ), Studio rent (month) (30%โ), Hotel night (24%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Enter a monthly income in Philadelphia to see what gives the same standard of living in Washington, D.C.. Starts at the average Philadelphia salary.
Travel difficulty
Philadelphia
Washington, D.C.
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 | Philadelphia | Washington, D.C. | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | $ 22$22 | $ 22$22 | similar |
| Street food1 item | $ 12$12 | $ 14$14 | Philadelphia โ14% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | $ 42$42 | $ 50$50 | Philadelphia โ16% |
| Coffeeone cup | $ 5.1$5.1 | $ 6$6 | Philadelphia โ15% |
| Beerone bottle | $ 6.5$6.5 | $ 8.5$8.5 | Philadelphia โ24% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | $ 14$14 | $ 17$17 | Philadelphia โ18% |
| Bottled water | $ 2$2 | $ 2.3$2.3 | Philadelphia โ13% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | $ 2.8$2.8 | $ 3$3 | Philadelphia โ7% |
| Taxi5 km in town | $ 15$15 | $ 14$14 | Washington, D.C. โ7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | $ 9$9 | $ 9$9 | similar |
| Transitone ride | $ 2.9$2.9 | $ 2.25$2.25 | Washington, D.C. โ22% |
| Scooter rentalper day | $ 35$35 | $ 35$35 | similar |
| Hotel night3-star | $ 175$175 | $ 230$230 | Philadelphia โ24% |
| Studio rent (month) | $ 1,550$1,550 | $ 2,200$2,200 | Philadelphia โ30% |
| Laundry | $ 4$4 | $ 6$6 | Philadelphia โ33% |
| SIM card1 week data | $ 25$25 | $ 30$30 | Philadelphia โ17% |
| Haircutcut | $ 33$33 | $ 35$35 | Philadelphia โ6% |
| Massage1 hour | $ 90$90 | $ 110$110 | Philadelphia โ18% |
| Half-day tourper person | $ 55$55 | $ 50$50 | Washington, D.C. โ9% |
| 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.
Open free โบ
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.?
Philadelphia is 19% cheaper than Washington, D.C.. Daily budget $336 vs $402; a month $6,015 vs $7,631.
Which is easier to travel, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.?
About the same: Philadelphia 1.4/5, Washington, D.C. 1.4/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Philadelphia is about $6,015 and Washington, D.C. about $7,631 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.
Related comparisons
๐ฎ๐ฉ Bali vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia๐ช๐ธ Barcelona vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia๐น๐ญ Bangkok vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia๐บ๐ธ Boston vs ๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.๐บ๐ธ Boston vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico City vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia๐บ๐ธ Chicago vs ๐บ๐ธ Washington, D.C.๐บ๐ธ Chicago vs ๐บ๐ธ Philadelphia