Question 1

Is Denver or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Philadelphia, PA is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $195/month less than in Denver, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $2,089/mo in Denver versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Denver vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $84,500/year before tax in Denver, CO and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Denver or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Philadelphia, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $11,167/month in Denver and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Denver or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Philadelphia 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	Denver54	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,499	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$11,167	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$84,500/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$2,089	$1,810
Median home value	$586,700	$232,400
Median household income	$91,681	$60,698
Unemployment	4.1%	4.9%
Housing score	30	45
Jobs score	44	55
Safety score	35	4
Climate score	74	100
Amenities score	64	46
Population	713.7K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	88° / 17°	87° / 29°

Denver, CO vs Philadelphia, PA