Uprootmap
Lakeland vs Philadelphia
Lakeland and Philadelphia
Photo: 颐园居 / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Philadelphia are above the US rate in this release, 10.1 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lakeland to Philadelphia
In 2022-2023, 101 households filed a move from Lakeland to Philadelphia (about 188 people, average adjusted gross income $32,990). 364 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,333 in Lakeland and $1,530 in Philadelphia. Lakeland has no state tax on wages. Philadelphia has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Philadelphia is 104% of the national level for the same work, against 85% in Lakeland.
Philadelphia averages 207 sunny days, with July highs around 87°F and January nights around 26°F. Lakeland is 253 sunny days, 91°F in July, 54°F in January. Commutes average 30 minutes in Philadelphia and 30 in Lakeland.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 101 households moved Lakeland → Philadelphia (about 188 people, average AGI $32,990). 364 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Lakeland and Philadelphia changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 1,083 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $2,750–$5,150
- Container or pod
- $1,950–$3,650
- Rent a truck
- $1,050–$2,000
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Dig into Philadelphia
Questions
Is Philadelphia cheaper than Lakeland after tax and rent?
No. Philadelphia leaves about $605 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,333 in Lakeland and $1,530 in Philadelphia.
Does Philadelphia have state income tax?
Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 3.75%.
Did people actually move from Lakeland to Philadelphia?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.