Cost of Living: Philadelphia vs Richmond
Purchasing Power Parity: how far does your salary go in Philadelphia compared to Richmond?
In Philadelphia, a salary of $100,000 is equivalent to about $90K in Richmond. That means Richmond offers 11% more spending power. Your money goes further in Richmond.
Based on Numbeo cost of living indices. Full methodology.
Salary Converter
Equivalent salary needed in Richmond
$90K
To maintain the same standard of living, you'd need $90K in Richmond vs $100K in Philadelphia
Philadelphia
66.2
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
Richmond
59.8
Cost of Living Index (NYC = 100)
How They Compare
Richmond is 10% cheaper than Philadelphia
What Top Roles Earn Here
Real salary data for roles with earnings data in both Philadelphia and Richmond, adjusted for cost of living.
| Role | Philadelphia median | Richmond median | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $123K | $120K | Richmond wins by 8% |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $120K | $110K | roughly equal |
| Data Scientists | $97K | $120K | Richmond wins by 38% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $104K | $90K | Philadelphia wins by 4% |
| Information Technology Project Managers | $131K | $105K | Philadelphia wins by 11% |
Salary data from public records. Adjusted for cost of living using PPP ratio (0.9x). 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 Richmond?
A: Philadelphia is approximately 11% more expensive than Richmond, based on Numbeo cost of living indices. A salary of $100,000 in Richmond is equivalent to about $111K 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 Richmond?
A: To maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Richmond, you would need approximately $111K 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 Richmond?
A: Based on 5 roles with salary data in both cities, Richmond wins by 8% when adjusted for cost of living. See the role comparison table below for detailed breakdowns with links to full salary pages.
Related comparisons
Philadelphia vs cities with a cost of living similar to Richmond
Richmond vs cities with a cost of living similar to Philadelphia