Salary needed
A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would need to be about $31,590 in Philadelphia County, PA, or $18,410 less, to match the modeled cost ratio.
Arlington County, VA vs Philadelphia County, PA: Cost of Living Difference
Is it cheaper?
Philadelphia County, PA is cheaper than Arlington County, VA.
Moving to Philadelphia County, PA is estimated to save $28,541 per year.
Cheaper County
Philadelphia County, PASave about $28,541 per year.Salary needed
$50,000 in Arlington County, VA is about $31,590 in Philadelphia County, PA.
Biggest drivers
No measured category is higher in Philadelphia County, PA. Housing saves $12,207 per year.
Housing: $12,207 lower in Philadelphia County, PA
Taxes: $10,100 lower in Philadelphia County, PA
Childcare: about the same in both counties
Healthcare: $588 lower in Philadelphia County, PA
Food: $970 lower in Philadelphia County, PA
Transport: $586 lower in Philadelphia County, PA
Arlington County, VA→Philadelphia County, PA
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia County, PA
$31,590
-36.82% lower
Current salary: $50,000
Household: 1 adult · 0 children
Median Income in Arlington County, VA: $194,878
Median Income in Philadelphia County, PA: $71,024
Living Index in Arlington County, VA 39.78%
Living Index in Philadelphia County, PA 68.96%
This estimate matches your purchasing power (equivalent salary) when moving from Arlington County, VA to Philadelphia County, PA.
* Living index is estimated as (estimated total cost / area median income) * 100. A living index above 100% means modeled costs exceed median income.
Cost of Living Breakdown by Category
Summary
Moving from Arlington County, VA to Philadelphia County, PA is estimated to save $28,541 per year. A $50,000 salary in Arlington County, VA would have similar purchasing power to about $31,590 in Philadelphia County, PA. The largest savings come from housing and taxes.
This is a -36.82% decrease in modeled annual costs. Housing is $12,207 per year lower (-44.34%); Taxes is $10,100 per year lower (-52.19%).
Below we break down the annual categories behind the difference using Economic Policy Institute 2026 Family Budget data.
Why this comparison matters
These notes use the actual annual cost differences between Arlington County, VA and Philadelphia County, PA, so the page highlights the budget tradeoffs behind the total.
Affordability vs median income
Modeled annual costs equal about 39.8% of median family income in Arlington County, VA and 69.0% in Philadelphia County, PA. This matters because a cheaper county can still feel tight if typical local incomes are also lower.
Housing
Housing is $12,207 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Housing usually behaves like a fixed monthly commitment, so this matters most for renters or buyers checking whether Philadelphia County, PA changes their baseline budget.
Food
Food is $970 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Food costs affect weekly cash flow, so even a smaller annual gap in Philadelphia County, PA can show up quickly for households that cook most meals at home.
Transportation
Transportation is $586 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Transportation matters for commuters because driving distance, vehicle costs, and transit access can change how much of a salary is left after getting around Philadelphia County, PA.
Healthcare
Healthcare is $588 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Healthcare differences are useful for planning premiums and out-of-pocket exposure, especially if Philadelphia County, PA changes provider networks or plan options.
Other necessities
Other necessities is $4,091 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Other necessities cover everyday basics, so changes in Philadelphia County, PA help explain the non-housing costs that can quietly add up month after month.
Childcare
Childcare is about the same in Arlington County, VA and Philadelphia County, PA, so this category is not a major driver of the modeled gap. Childcare is most important for households with children; in Philadelphia County, PA, this line can swing the result even when housing or taxes look manageable.
Taxes
Taxes is $10,100 per year lower in Philadelphia County, PA than in Arlington County, VA. Taxes affect take-home pay, so the gap in Philadelphia County, PA matters even if the headline salary looks similar before deductions.
What changed the most?
The following cards show the annual category differences that most affect the move to Philadelphia County, PA.
Biggest Cost
Largest annual cost increase when moving to Philadelphia County, PA
Annual Increase:
No increase
No measured category is higher in Philadelphia County, PA.
Biggest Savings
Largest annual savings when moving to Philadelphia County, PA
Annual Savings:
$12,207 per year
HOUSING has the largest annual savings when moving to Philadelphia County, PA.
Breakdown of price percentages per category.
Numbers are average costs per section.
| Category | Difference | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | -44% lower | |
| Food | -18% lower | |
| Transport | -6% lower | |
| Healthcare | -13% lower | |
| Other Costs | -40% lower | |
| Childcare | 0% higher | |
| Taxes | -52% lower |
In Philadelphia County, PA, modeled annual costs are $48,976 compared with $77,517 in Arlington County, VA.
Overall, annual costs are lower in Philadelphia County, PA. The category breakdown above shows where the move creates the most room in the budget.
In this case Philadelphia County, PA and Arlington County, VA are both metropolitan locations.
Use our map to visually compare multiple counties at once.
