Side-by-side comparison

West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Cost of living comparison for West Palm Beach, Florida and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Bottom line

West Palm Beach is approximately 11% more expensive than Philadelphia. A single person needs about $3,761/mo in West Palm Beach versus $3,382/mo in Philadelphia.

Rent in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

HUD Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

West Palm Beach · Studio

$1,639

Philadelphia · Studio

$1,372

West Palm Beach is $267 (19%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · 1 bedroom

$1,830

Philadelphia · 1 bedroom

$1,512

West Palm Beach is $318 (21%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · 2 bedroom

$2,187

Philadelphia · 2 bedroom

$1,802

West Palm Beach is $385 (21%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · 3 bedroom

$2,856

Philadelphia · 3 bedroom

$2,171

West Palm Beach is $685 (32%) higher than Philadelphia

Income & earnings in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Annual figures from Census ACS.

West Palm Beach · Household income

$81,115

Philadelphia · Household income

$60,698

West Palm Beach is $20,417 (34%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Individual earnings

$42,309

Philadelphia · Individual earnings

$42,478

Philadelphia is $169 (0%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Per capita

$50,998

Philadelphia · Per capita

$37,669

West Palm Beach is $13,329 (35%) higher than Philadelphia

Home values in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Average values and property tax.

West Palm Beach · Average home value

$407,300

Philadelphia · Average home value

$232,400

West Palm Beach is $174,900 (75%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Annual property tax

$3,600

Philadelphia · Annual property tax

$1,952

West Palm Beach is $1,648 (84%) higher than Philadelphia

Energy in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Estimated monthly electricity and gas.

West Palm Beach · Monthly electricity

$176

Philadelphia · Monthly electricity

$143

West Palm Beach is $33 (23%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Monthly gas

$21

Philadelphia · Monthly gas

$62

Philadelphia is $41 (195%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Annual total

$2,364

Philadelphia · Annual total

$2,460

Philadelphia is $96 (4%) higher than West Palm Beach

Healthcare in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Marketplace premium estimates and coverage rate.

West Palm Beach · Individual premium

$480

Philadelphia · Individual premium

$480

West Palm Beach and Philadelphia are about the same

West Palm Beach · Family premium

$1,350

Philadelphia · Family premium

$1,350

West Palm Beach and Philadelphia are about the same

West Palm Beach · Uninsured rate

13.2%

Philadelphia · Uninsured rate

7.2%

West Palm Beach is 6.0% (83%) higher than Philadelphia

Taxes in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

State income and sales tax.

West Palm Beach · State income tax

0.0%

Philadelphia · State income tax

3.1%

Philadelphia is 3.1% higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · State sales tax

6.0%

Philadelphia · State sales tax

6.0%

West Palm Beach and Philadelphia are about the same

West Palm Beach · Combined sales tax

7.0%

Philadelphia · Combined sales tax

6.3%

West Palm Beach is 0.7% (11%) higher than Philadelphia

Transportation in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

Commute time and travel modes.

West Palm Beach · Average commute

26.4 min

Philadelphia · Average commute

32.0 min

Philadelphia is 5.6 min (21%) higher than West Palm Beach

West Palm Beach · Drive alone

71.4%

Philadelphia · Drive alone

46.7%

West Palm Beach is 24.7% (53%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Public transit

1.4%

Philadelphia · Public transit

17.9%

Philadelphia is 16.5% (1179%) higher than West Palm Beach

Monthly cost estimates in West Palm Beach vs Philadelphia

All categories combined.

West Palm Beach · Single person

$3,761

Philadelphia · Single person

$3,382

West Palm Beach is $379 (11%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Couple

$5,353

Philadelphia · Couple

$4,560

West Palm Beach is $793 (17%) higher than Philadelphia

West Palm Beach · Family

$8,180

Philadelphia · Family

$7,059

West Palm Beach is $1,121 (16%) higher than Philadelphia

Frequently asked questions

Common questions comparing West Palm Beach and Philadelphia.

Is West Palm Beach or Philadelphia more expensive?

West Palm Beach is more expensive overall. A single person needs approximately $3,761/mo in West Palm Beach, Florida and $3,382/mo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a difference of about 11%.

What is the rent difference between West Palm Beach and Philadelphia?

Average one-bedroom rent in West Palm Beach, Florida is $1,830/mo versus $1,512/mo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. West Palm Beach is approximately $318 (21%) more expensive for a one-bedroom apartment.

Which has higher income, West Palm Beach or Philadelphia?

West Palm Beach has the higher average household income. West Palm Beach households earn approximately $81,115 per year; Philadelphia households earn approximately $60,698 per year.

More on West Palm Beach and Philadelphia

Read full profiles for either area, or pick a different pair to compare.

West Palm Beach profile Philadelphia profile Compare different areas

About this data

Figures come from official U.S. government sources including the Census Bureau (ACS), HUD Fair Market Rents, and the Energy Information Administration. See our methodology for details.