Compare / Harrisburg to Philadelphia
Harrisburg, PA vs Philadelphia, PA
Simple answer
You'd likely save $262 a month in Harrisburg.
This is the HUD 2-bedroom fair-market rent for October 2026 through September 2027. It is not your lease.
The largest cost gap in this pair is Census rent. Census median gross rent differs by $313, with Philadelphia higher.
Pennsylvania taxes wages at a flat 3.07%. Pennsylvania taxes wages at a flat 3.07%. Combined sales tax differs by 0.0 percentage points, higher in Pennsylvania. The effective property tax gap is 0.00 percentage points, higher in Pennsylvania.
Both metros are in Pennsylvania, so benefit eligibility in this tool does not change with the move. Rent and price levels still differ.
A $75,000 salary in Harrisburg lines up with about $77,968 in Philadelphia on the 2024 all-items price parity. Census median gross rent and the commute figures are 2024. Fair Market Rents are fiscal year 2027.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,598
- HUD area
- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,254
- All-items price parity
- 98.7
- Goods price parity
- 100.7
- Utilities price parity
- 108.1
- Mean commute
- 22.5 min
- Median household income
- $80,904
Philadelphia
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent
- $1,860
- HUD area
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA
- Census median gross rent
- $1,567
- All-items price parity
- 102.6
- Goods price parity
- 96.8
- Utilities price parity
- 114.4
- Mean commute
- 29.7 min
- Median household income
- $90,850
Equivalent salary
The first number keeps the same place in the national price level. The second also runs 2026 federal income tax, employee Social Security and Medicare, and a simplified state income tax. Groceries use the BEA goods price parity, not a grocery receipt.
$77,968
Salary in Philadelphia that matches the 2024 all-items regional price parity.
$78,495
Gross salary in Philadelphia whose after-tax pay buys the same basket, using price parities.
$87,297
Scales the salary by the ratio of HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents. Rent is not the whole budget.
Taxes on the two sides of the move
| Tax | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| State income tax on wages | 3.07% flat | 3.07% flat |
| Combined sales tax, Jan 1, 2026 | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Effective property tax, ACS 2024 median / median | 1.16% | 1.16% |
On a $400,000 home, the state median effective rate implies about $4,631 a year in Pennsylvania and $4,631 in Pennsylvania. That illustration is not a local bill. Childcare prices are not in the verified dataset for these metros.
Benefits if you land in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg and Philadelphia are in Pennsylvania. The benefit rules in this tool are statewide, so the statuses match. Rent and prices still differ.
Food stamps (SNAP)
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
Medicaid and CHIP
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
WIC
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
School meals
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
LIHEAP
HarrisburgMaybe
PhiladelphiaMaybe
Earned Income Tax Credit
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
Child Tax Credit
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
Marketplace premium tax credits
HarrisburgUnlikely
PhiladelphiaUnlikely
Lifeline phone and internet
HarrisburgLikely eligible
PhiladelphiaLikely eligible
SSI
HarrisburgUnlikely
PhiladelphiaUnlikely
| Program | Harrisburg | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Food stamps (SNAP) | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Medicaid and CHIP | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| WIC | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| School meals | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| LIHEAP | Maybe | Maybe |
| Earned Income Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Child Tax Credit | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| Marketplace premium tax credits | Unlikely | Unlikely |
| Lifeline phone and internet | Likely eligible | Likely eligible |
| SSI | Unlikely | Unlikely |
Related comparisons
From Harrisburg
The eight largest 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent gaps from Harrisburg.
- Harrisburg and San Francisco · rent gap $2,099
- Harrisburg and San Jose · rent gap $1,674
- Harrisburg and Boston · rent gap $1,410
- Harrisburg and New York · rent gap $1,373
- Harrisburg and Los Angeles · rent gap $1,366
- Harrisburg and San Diego · rent gap $1,225
- Harrisburg and Miami · rent gap $966
- Harrisburg and Seattle · rent gap $951
Nearby metros
How the salary and tax math works · The reverse city order redirects to this address.