Moving from Lancaster, PA to Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD
About 3,501 people made this move in a typical year (Census Bureau metro-to-metro migration flows, ACS 5-year 2016-2020), and 3,885 go the other way. Here is what the move does to two households’ budgets after 2026 taxes — and the salary each needs in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
Single, $70k: line by line
Single adult earning $70,000, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (1 bedroom). Taxes take 20.2% of income in Lancaster, PA and 23.9% in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
Lancaster, PA Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD (monthly)
| Monthly | Lancaster, PA | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,833 | $5,833 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,177 | $1,395 | +$218 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law | $548 | $548 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $446 | $446 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $179 | $179 | $0 |
| Unemployment Compensation (UC) – employee2026 tax law | $4 | $4 | $0 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of Philadelphia. | $0 | $218 | +$218 |
| Take-home pay | $4,656 | $4,439 | −$218 |
| Housing | $1,256 | $1,558 | +$302 |
| Rent, 1-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,256 | $1,558 | +$302 |
| Food | $444 | $427 | −$17 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 96.8 | $444 | $427 | −$17 |
| Transportation | $175 | $175 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 12,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.36/gal (Central Atlantic (PADD)) | $175 | $175 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $29 | −$1 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $30 | $29 | −$1 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $999 | +$7 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 96.8 | $503 | $484 | −$19 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 103.1 | $489 | $515 | +$27 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $1,760 | $1,251 | −$509 |
Family of four, $120k: line by line
Two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child, $120,000 combined, renting. Same gross pay in both places; renting at HUD Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms), center-based childcare in current dollars. Taxes take 15.5% of income in Lancaster, PA and 19.2% in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
Lancaster, PA Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD (monthly)
| Monthly | Lancaster, PA | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| Taxes | $1,549 | $1,923 | +$374 |
| Federal income tax2026 tax law · after $4,400 Child Tax Credit | $470 | $470 | $0 |
| Social Security + Medicare2026 tax law | $765 | $765 | $0 |
| State income tax2026 tax law | $307 | $307 | $0 |
| Unemployment Compensation (UC) – employee2026 tax law | $7 | $7 | $0 |
| Local income tax2026 tax law · Mandatory local income tax for residents of Philadelphia. | $0 | $374 | +$374 |
| Take-home pay | $8,451 | $8,078 | −$374 |
| Housing | $1,553 | $1,860 | +$307 |
| Rent, 2-bedroomHUD FMR FY2027 · 40th-percentile gross rent, includes tenant-paid utilities | $1,553 | $1,860 | +$307 |
| Childcare | $2,045 | $2,047 | +$3 |
| Childcare, center-basedDOL NDCP 2020 · preschool $195/wk, school-age $170/wk (2020 prices, Philadelphia County, PA); × 1.2945 BLS CPI day care, 2020 to 2026-08; Philadelphia County, PA has no 2022 NDCP price; the latest published year, 2020, is used | $2,045 | $2,047 | +$3 |
| Food | $1,291 | $1,242 | −$49 |
| Food at home (USDA Moderate-Cost plan)USDA food plans August 2026 · US cost × RPP goods 96.8 | $1,291 | $1,242 | −$49 |
| Transportation | $349 | $349 | $0 |
| GasolineEIA electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05 · 24,000 mi ÷ 25 mpg × $4.36/gal (Central Atlantic (PADD)) | $349 | $349 | $0 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $29 | −$1 |
| State sales taxState revenue dept. 2026-10-13 · 6% on other goods; groceries exempt — local add-ons not modeled | $30 | $29 | −$1 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $999 | +$7 |
| Other goods (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP goods 96.8 | $503 | $484 | −$19 |
| Other services (estimate)Estimate (BEA RPP 2024) · your US-average baseline × RPP other services 103.1 | $489 | $515 | +$27 |
| Left over after modeled costs | $2,191 | $1,551 | −$640 |
Lancaster, PA vs Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD at a glance
| Measure | Lancaster, PA | Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (BEA RPP, US = 100) | 98.3 | 102.6 |
| Housing price level | 93.8 | 113.1 |
| 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,256 | $1,558 |
| 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,553 | $1,860 |
| 3-bedroom Fair Market Rent | $1,978 | $2,216 |
| Median home value | $301,100 | $351,900 |
| Effective property-tax rate | 1.32% | 1.44% |
| Median household income | $86,959 | $91,289 |
| Center infant care / week (DOL NDCP 2022 unless noted) | $270 (2020 price) | $235 (2020 price) |
| State income tax on wages | Yes | Yes |
| Mandatory local income tax (principal city) | None in our data | Philadelphia |
| State sales tax | 6% | 6% |
| Regular gasoline | $4.36 | $4.36 |
| Average electric bill (state) | $162 | $162 |
Sources: BEA RPP 2024; HUD FMR FY2027; Census ACS 2020-2024; DOL NDCP 2022; 2026 tax law; state revenue departments; EIA (electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05).
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to make in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD to keep my Lancaster, PA lifestyle?+
For a single renter earning $70,000 in Lancaster, PA, about $79,625 in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD (+13.8%). For two adults with a preschooler and a school-age child on $120,000, about $130,455. Both keep the same money left over after 2026 taxes, rent, childcare, food, fuel and other modeled costs.
Is Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD cheaper than Lancaster, PA?+
On BEA’s 2024 price index, Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD is at 102.6 and Lancaster, PA at 98.3 (US = 100). After taxes and household costs, a single renter on $70,000 would have −$509 a month in Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
How many people move from Lancaster, PA to Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD?+
About 3,501 people a year (±632), according to the Census Bureau’s metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020); about 3,885 move the other way.
What isn’t included?+
Moving costs, health insurance, car payments and insurance, local sales tax add-ons and differences in wages between the two metros. Add known monthly costs in the calculator’s “Fixed costs / month” field.