City Comparison
Philadelphia vs Bethlehem
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Bethlehem scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Philadelphia
Bethlehem
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Philadelphia is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
3% lower than in Bethlehem.
| Metric | Philadelphia | Bethlehem | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,768 | $1,800 | -2% |
| Groceries | $420 | $450 | -7% |
| Utilities | $185 | $227 | -19% |
| Transport | $110 | $60 | +83% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $250 | -8% |
| Monthly Total | $2,713 | $2,787 | -3% |
| Cost Index | 102 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Philadelphia offers 46% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Philadelphia delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Philadelphia is estimated at
$58,000 vs $55,000 in Bethlehem.
| Metric | Philadelphia | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $72,000 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 70,588 idx | 51,869 idx |
| Household Income | $61,953 | $68,879 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 2.7°F of each other.
Winter severity differs too — Bethlehem sees 6.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Philadelphia | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 55.90°F | 53.20°F |
| Summer High | 84.80°F | 82.90°F |
| Winter Low | 26.00°F | 22.70°F |
| Rainfall | 39.10 in | 39.40 in |
| Snowfall | 12.00 in | 18.10 in |
| Sunny Days | 253 | 249 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bethlehem has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Philadelphia leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Philadelphia | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 68.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 76.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Philadelphia is the larger city
— approximately 19.5x the population of Bethlehem.
From a growth perspective, Bethlehem is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bethlehem has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Philadelphia | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,574,281 | 80,563 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.10% | 1.15% |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 36.1 |
| Unemployment | 4.90% | 4.50% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Philadelphia
Advantages
Average rent remains roughly 15-20% lower than comparable major East Coast markets like New York and Boston.
Home to world-class higher education and healthcare anchor institutions driving stable high-skilled employment.
High walkability and extensive public transit infrastructure via SEPTA make car-free urban living practical.
Vibrant arts, historical architecture, and globally renowned culinary and craft beverage scenes.
Emerging status as a top-tier life sciences and biotechnology venture capital destination ('Cellicon Valley').
Drawbacks
Local wage and business tax structures can present a heavier financial burden compared to surrounding suburbs.
Property crime and localized public safety challenges persist across specific urban neighborhoods.
Public school system performance faces chronic funding and structural hurdles, prompting many families to explore alternatives.
Varying rates of economic mobility leave certain historically underserved neighborhoods behind the city's broader growth.
Post-pandemic economic and job growth recovery has occasionally lagged behind other major U.S. metropolitan regions.
Bethlehem
Advantages
Bethlehem's population is projected to grow by 1.15% annually in 2026, indicating a growing and dynamic community.
The median household income in Bethlehem was $68,879 in 2024, showing a 3.67% one-year growth.
The average rent in Bethlehem is 5% below the national average as of September 2026, making it a more affordable place to live.
The median property value in Bethlehem increased by 10.1% in 2024, suggesting a healthy real estate market for homeowners.
The cost of home care in Bethlehem is approximately 16% lower than the Pennsylvania average and 22% lower than the national average as of September 2026.
Drawbacks
The poverty rate in Bethlehem was 15.69% in 2026.
While rent is generally affordable, it has increased by 3.4% in the past year as of September 2026.
The median individual income in Bethlehem was $36,225 in 2024, which is lower than the median household income.
Home prices fell about 2.4% a year between 2015 and 2024, an unusual pattern compared to rising rents.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Bethlehem grew by 5.37% between 2023 and 2024.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Philadelphia
#512Pennsylvania, USA
51.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,768
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
102
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
68.0/100
Walkability
76.0/100
Sunny Days
253/yr
Avg Temp
55.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.10%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
75
Business
70
Bethlehem
#295Pennsylvania, USA
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
95
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.15%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Philadelphia and Bethlehem.
Open Cost Calculator