CostIndexUSA

Appleton, WI vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableWI
Appleton
92.4
overall index
$1,125/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Appleton is moderately cheaper than Philadelphia — 11.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Appleton, you would need $88,800 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+59.7%
Appleton
70.8
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries+3.2%
Appleton
93.8
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+3.6%
Appleton
104.4
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+3.7%
Appleton
94.4
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities+26.3%
Appleton
90.6
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Appleton to see what you'd need to earn in Philadelphia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$88,800
$8,800 more needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 92.4) = salary × 1.1104. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Appleton, WI

Median Home Price
$333,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,125
Housing Index
70.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
24.7×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Philadelphia has 59.7% higher housing costs compared to Appleton.

Income & Job Market

Appleton, WI

Median Household Income
$84,000
Per Capita Income
$47,900
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Population
77,315
Top Industries
ManufacturingHealthcareFinanceRetailEducation

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Appleton, WI
6.2×income-to-rent ratio

84% of income left after rent (median)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.