

Philadelphia vs Riverside
$1,042/mo less in Riverside
PhiladelphiaRiversideAbout 2,257 miles apart, a flight.
- Riverside costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- 269 sunny days
Same paycheck, two cities. $1,392/mo in Riverside. $2,434/mo in Philadelphia. −$12,504 a year.
Philadelphia
$2,434
left each month
Riverside
$1,392
−$1,042 vs Philadelphia
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 83 households moved Philadelphia → Riverside (avg AGI $80,735). 70 went the other way. The whole move →
−$1,042 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Philadelphia | Riverside | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,125 | $7,344 | −$781 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,264 | $1,830 | −$434 |
| Take-home pay | $5,861 | $5,513 | −$347 |
| Rent | $1,530 | $1,940 | +$410 |
| Getting around | $418 | $644 | +$226 |
| Groceries | $408 | $424 | +$16 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $477 | +$18 |
| Utilities | $255 | $265 | +$10 |
| Everything else | $357 | $371 | +$14 |
| Left over | $2,434 | $1,392 | −$1,042 |
Salary to match Philadelphia
$108,500
Gross pay in Riverside that leaves the same amount as $97,500 in Philadelphia.
Tax difference
+$2,427
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 27.9% in Philadelphia, 24.9% in Riverside.
More about Riverside
Philadelphia, PA in full
East Coast density at half of Boston's rent, minus a 3.75% city wage tax.
Riverside, CA in full
Southern California's affordable option, paid for with a 33-minute commute.
The other way
Start in Riverside.
Riverside → Philadelphia →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Riverside than Philadelphia?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Riverside leaves about $1,042 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,530 in Philadelphia and $1,940 in Riverside.
Does Riverside have state income tax?
Riverside is in California, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Philadelphia to Riverside?
The paycheck is taxed in California. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Philadelphia and Riverside changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.