Chicago vs Philadelphia
Compare Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,310/mo in Chicago and $1,347/mo in Philadelphia, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,714/mo and $1,737/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (276 vs 266 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 84°F and 87°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Chicago; if walkable daily life matters more, Chicago screens stronger on the walkability proxy (44 vs 41). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Both cities are close on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Chicago leads 62 to 50 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Chicago is roughly $86,598 in Philadelphia using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Chicago | Philadelphia | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,310/mo | $1,347/mo | Chicago |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,714/mo | $1,737/mo | Chicago |
| Median home value | $288,000 | $305,000 | Chicago |
| State income tax | 5.0% | 3.1% | Philadelphia |
| Average commute | 33.8 min | 31.8 min | Philadelphia |
| Safety score | 53/100 | 66/100 | Philadelphia |
| School score | 8/10 | 7/10 | Chicago |
| Walkability estimate | 44/100 | 41/100 | Chicago |
| Outdoor score | 5/10 | 6/10 | Philadelphia |
| Restaurants per 100k | 186.3 | 180.5 | Chicago |
| Mountain distance | 242 mi | 19 mi | Philadelphia |
| Coast distance | 591 mi | 4 mi | Philadelphia |
What stands out
Chicago stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Strong food and nightlife amenities score
- Trail access within 40 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
Chicago tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Philadelphia stronger signals
- Major airport access
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 24 miles
- Named beach within 30 miles
Philadelphia tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Chicago cheaper than Philadelphia?
On public benchmarks Chicago is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,310/mo in Chicago vs $1,347/mo in Philadelphia; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,714/mo vs $1,737/mo; state income tax is 5.0% vs 3.1%.
Is Chicago or Philadelphia safer?
Philadelphia screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 53/100 for Chicago and 66/100 for Philadelphia (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Chicago or Philadelphia?
School screens show 8/10 for Chicago vs 7/10 for Philadelphia, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Chicago and Philadelphia?
Chicago: summer highs near 84°F, winter lows near 22°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Philadelphia: 87°F / 26°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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