Cost of Living: Salem, OR vs Philadelphia, PA

Quick rent-and-take-home comparison

Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $3,939/mo in Salem, OR versus $4,337/mo in Philadelphia, PA. In the model, rent is about 19.29% of gross in Salem, OR versus 19.29% in Philadelphia, PA, so Salem, OR tends to feel more affordable for rent.

Take-home in Salem, OR
$3,939/mo
Income level: near
Take-home in Philadelphia, PA
$4,337/mo
Income level: above
Rent share (1BR) in Salem, OR
19.29%
COLI tier: mid-range
Rent share (1BR) in Philadelphia, PA
19.29%
COLI tier: mid-range

Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Salem, OR and Philadelphia, PA.

At a glance

  • Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Philadelphia, PA
  • Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Philadelphia, PA
  • Lower home prices: Philadelphia, PA
  • Higher median household income: Salem, OR

Cost of Living Index

Salem, OR: 104.2 (U.S. = 100) · Philadelphia, PA: 95.2 (U.S. = 100)

Philadelphia, PA has a lower cost-of-living index than Salem, OR, so a given salary generally stretches further there.

Median Rent

Salem, OR: $1,257/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Philadelphia, PA: $1,257/mo

Median rent is similar in both cities.

Median Home Price

Salem, OR: $382,400 · Philadelphia, PA: $232,400

Median home price in Salem, OR is $150,000 higher than in Philadelphia, PA.

Median Household Income

Salem, OR: $71,900 · Philadelphia, PA: $60,698

Salem, OR has a higher median household income than Philadelphia, PA by $11,202.

Salem, OR overview · Philadelphia, PA overview · Popular comparisons