Cost of Living: Philadelphia vs Raleigh
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Philadelphia compared to Raleigh?
In Philadelphia, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $93K in Raleigh. That means Raleigh offers 7% more spending power. Your money goes further in Raleigh.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Raleigh
$93K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $93K in Raleigh vs $100K in Philadelphia
Philadelphia
66.2
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Raleigh
61.8
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Raleigh is 7% cheaper than Philadelphia
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Philadelphia and Raleigh, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Philadelphia median | Raleigh median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $123K | $125K | Raleigh wins by 9% |
| Cloud Architect | $92K | $95K | Raleigh wins by 10% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $131K | $115K | Philadelphia wins by 6% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $120K | $94K | Philadelphia wins by 16% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $161K | $160K | Raleigh wins by 6% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.93x). Methodology.
See real salary data
Check actual public salaries for these cities on RoleHue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:How much more does it cost to live in Philadelphia vs Raleigh?
A: Philadelphia is approximately 7% more expensive than Raleigh, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Raleigh is equivalent to about $107K in Philadelphia. However, actual costs vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation.
Q:What salary do I need in Philadelphia to match $100,000 in Raleigh?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Raleigh, you would need approximately $107K in Philadelphia. This accounts for differences in housing, groceries, transportation, and other living expenses between the two cities.
Q:Are these cost of living differences accurate for everyone?
A: Cost of living indices provide a useful benchmark, but individual experiences vary by lifestyle, housing choices, and tax situation. The data comes from Numbeo's crowd-sourced cost of living database and reflects average spending patterns. Use the interactive calculator above to model your specific salary scenario.
Q:How do real salaries compare between Philadelphia and Raleigh?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Raleigh wins by 9% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
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