Question 1

Is Detroit or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, MI is cheaper. Estimated essentials for a single person run about $226/month less than in Philadelphia, covering rent plus everyday costs. Typical rent is $1,411/mo in Detroit versus $1,810/mo in Philadelphia.

Question 2

What salary do you need in Detroit vs Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

Living comfortably takes roughly $78,500/year before tax in Detroit, MI and $84,000/year in Philadelphia, PA — a difference of about $5,500. Both figures are after state and local income taxes are accounted for.

Question 3

Is Detroit or Philadelphia cheaper for a family?

Accepted Answer

Detroit, the same answer as for a single person. Two adults with a pre-schooler and a school-age child run about $9,052/month in Detroit and $9,690/month in Philadelphia, including county-median childcare.

Question 4

Should I move to Detroit or Philadelphia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you weight. Detroit 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	Detroit58	Philadelphia53
Est. monthly cost (single)	$4,078	$4,304
Est. monthly cost (family of 4, incl. childcare)	$9,052	$9,690
Salary for comfort	$78,500/yr	$84,000/yr
Typical rent	$1,411	$1,810
Median home value	$76,800	$232,400
Median household income	$39,575	$60,698
Unemployment	10.7%	4.9%
Housing score	61	45
Jobs score	36	55
Safety score	18	4
Climate score	79	100
Amenities score	82	46
Population	636.6K	1.6M
Summer high / winter low	83° / 20°	87° / 29°

Detroit, MI vs Philadelphia, PA