CostIndexUSA

New Haven, CT vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

CT
New Haven
104.6
overall index
$1,975/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Philadelphia is slightly cheaper than New Haven — 1.9% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in New Haven, you would need $78,500 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing9.0%
New Haven
124.3
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
New Haven
97.3
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
New Haven
107.8
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
New Haven
97.5
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities21.0%
New Haven
144.8
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$78,500
$1,500 less needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 104.6) = salary × 0.9809. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

New Haven, CT

Median Home Price
$386,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,975
Housing Index
124.3
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.3×

Philadelphia, PA

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

New Haven has 9.0% lower housing costs compared to Philadelphia.

Income & Job Market

New Haven, CT

Median Household Income
$80,700
Per Capita Income
$46,000
Unemployment Rate
4.2%
Population
130,250
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareManufacturingFinanceGovernment

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).

New Haven, CT
3.4×income-to-rent ratio

71% 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.