

Moving from Raleigh to Philadelphia
Moving from Raleigh to Philadelphia: −$314/mo after tax & rent
RaleighPhiladelphiaAbout 334 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Philadelphia costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
$2,423/mo in Philadelphia. $2,737/mo in Raleigh. −$3,768 a year.
Raleigh
$2,737
left each month
Philadelphia
$2,423
−$314 vs Raleigh
Next
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 258 households moved Raleigh → Philadelphia (about 375 people, average AGI $83,399). 517 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
See full breakdown
| Per month | Raleigh | Philadelphia |
|---|---|---|
| Take-home | $5,949 | $5,850 |
| Rent | $1,252 | $1,530 |
| All other costs | $1,960 | $1,897 |
| Left over | $2,737 | $2,423 |
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Raleigh and Philadelphia 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.
What the move itself costs
About 400 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,950–$3,700
- Container or pod
- $1,350–$2,550
- Rent a truck
- $600–$1,100
Explore more
Other moves from Raleigh
Dig into Philadelphia
Questions
Is Philadelphia cheaper than Raleigh after tax and rent?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Philadelphia leaves about $314 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,252 in Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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.