Question 1

Is Austin or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Austin, TX is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $799/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,095/mo in Austin versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Austin vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $60,000/year before tax in Austin, TX and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $24,000. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Austin or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Austin, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $8,996/month in Austin and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Austin or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Austin costs less month to month, but cost is one of six factors — jobs, safety, climate, housing and amenities all differ too. Compare them against your own income and priorities rather than a single ranking.

Metric	Austin75	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$3,505	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$8,996	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$60,000/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,095	$1,810
Median home value	$512,700	$232,400
Median household income	$91,461	$60,698
Unemployment	3.9%	4.9%
Housing score	58	45
Jobs score	76	55
Safety score	58	4
Climate score	92	100
Amenities score	64	46
Population	967.9K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	96° / 42°	87° / 29°

Austin, TX vs Philadelphia, PA