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Philadelphia
#36 of 124
North America

Philadelphia

PA, United States

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Philadelphia compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Philadelphia is 28% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Philadelphia compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$130,000
-$142K (-52%) vs San Francisco
Based on 703 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$88,205
-$84K (-49%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 32%

Community Insights

New

Philadelphia presents a compelling value proposition for software engineers who want a genuine big-city experience without the exorbitant price tag of its northern neighbors. It offers a "gritty" authenticity, incredible food, and high walkability that many transplants fall in love with. However, the trade-off comes in the form of a high local tax burden (the City Wage Tax) and persistent issues with cleanliness and safety. The tech scene is stable but not explosive, dominated by large institutional players (Comcast, Universities, Healthcare) rather than a booming startup ecosystem.

Resident Sentiment

Sentiment is a mix of fierce loyalty and frustrated realism. Residents often describe a "love-hate" relationship: they defend the city's character, affordability, and culture passionately (

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Home Affordability

Top 10%

#13

of 124 cities

≈2.7 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Community Events

Top 23%

#28

of 124 cities

11 events on luma

Current value

Net Income

Top 23%

#28

of 124 cities

$88,205/yr

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Philadelphia compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,997 / m²
70% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Philadelphia to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
29% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Philadelphia

Susquehanna International Group logo
Susquehanna International Group
Capital One logo
Capital One
Comcast logo
Comcast
Affordability vs. NYC/DC: Frequently cited as the biggest draw; you can buy a rowhome or rent a spacious apartment for a fraction of the cost of New York or Washington D.C. while still enjoying a dense, walkable city life.
  • Walkability & Public Transit: Center City and surrounding neighborhoods are highly walkable; SEPTA provides decent coverage (subway/trolley/bus), and Amtrak offers easy access to NYC (1.5 hrs) and DC for weekend trips or hybrid work arrangements.
  • Food & Drink Scene: Consistently praised as top-tier; diverse options ranging from high-end dining to iconic cheesesteaks and hoagies, plus a vibrant BYOB culture which keeps dining out cheaper.
  • Neighborhood Character: Distinctive vibes in areas like Fishtown, Northern Liberties, Rittenhouse, and South Philly; residents love the historic architecture and "gritty" charm.
  • Tech Stability: While not a startup hub, there is a stable market in ed-tech, health-tech (Penn Medicine, Jefferson), fintech (Vanguard in nearby Malvern), and telecom (Comcast), offering steady albeit less flashy employment.

    • The Bad

    • City Wage Tax: A major complaint; a flat tax of roughly 3.75% on gross income for residents (regardless of where they work) and non-residents who work physically in the city. Remote workers living in the suburbs but assigned to a Philly office often face complex tax liability.
    • Trash & Cleanliness: Frequently described as "filthy" or "trash-covered"; residents complain about litter, lack of street sweeping, and irregular garbage collection.
    • Crime & Safety: A significant concern; while Center City is generally safer, specific neighborhoods can be dangerous. The low safety index reflects frequent reports of property crime, theft, and aggressive behavior on public transit (SEPTA).
    • Limited Top-Tier Tech Jobs: Lacks the density of FAANG or high-growth unicorns found in SF, NYC, or Seattle; ambitious engineers may feel the ceiling is lower here.
    • Weather Extremes: Hot, humid summers and cold, gray winters can be a struggle for those used to milder climates.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Value-conscious urbanites who love city life (walkability, food, distinct neighborhoods) but are priced out of NYC. It is ideal for remote workers (who can tolerate the wage tax or live just outside the limits) or those working in health-tech or telecom who appreciate a lower cost of living and easy access to the rest of the Northeast Corridor.

    Skip it if...

    Hyper-ambitious career climbers looking for the next rocket-ship startup or FAANG density; the ceiling here is lower. It is also not for those who prioritize pristine clean streets or who feel unsafe in rougher urban environments. Avoid if you are highly sensitive to taxes and plan to live in the city while working remotely for a company based elsewhere, as the wage tax cuts significantly into take-home pay.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather5.6/10-36% vs San Francisco
    Safety35-12%
    Pollution48-3%
    Events11-78%
    5.6/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    18°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    9°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,498h/yr-563h/yr(-18%)
    Hottest Month High
    30°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    -3°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    96/yr+47/yr(+97%)

    Community & Quality

    Philadelphia community pulse

    Philadelphia has 11 Luma events listed.

    78% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Purchasing Power

    Top 29%

    #36

    of 124 cities

    Comfortable Weather

    Top 31%

    #39

    of 124 cities

    56/100 weather score

    Current value

    Pollution Score

    Middle of the pack

    #61

    of 124 cities

    47.7/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #69

    of 124 cities

    32%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Cost of Living

    Bottom 22%

    #98

    of 124 cities

    64/100

    Current value (lower is better)

    Safety Index

    Bottom 10%

    #113

    of 124 cities

    34.7/100

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    2.7 years
    1.9 years quicker than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    51/yr+51/yr(+25550%)
    Cloud Cover
    46%(vs 34% in San Francisco)