Rents are right about where Philadelphia's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,757 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in Philadelphia usually run 0.8% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in June, about $28 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Philadelphia is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Philadelphia changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Philadelphia rose 21.2% while median household income rose 34.9% ($45,927 to $61,953). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Philadelphia is 26.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 45 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($61,953) is $1,549 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,514); a 2-bedroom is $1,804.
The priciest of 43 ZIP codes in Philadelphia, 19103 ($2,272/mo), costs 1.9 times the cheapest, 19141 ($1,206/mo).
Lansdowne, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,458/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Philadelphia. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Philadelphia, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 35.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Philadelphia, PA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Philadelphia, PA paid around $1,407 a month. That figure now sits near $1,757, up 24.9% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $61,953 today, compared with $52,649 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Philadelphia, PA losing about 17,159 residents over the five-year window, down 1.1% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 32.5% to 35.4% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
Discussions about Philadelphia
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Philadelphia on your salary?
At $1,757/mo, how Philadelphia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Philadelphia rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Philadelphia. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Philadelphia
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Philadelphia is $1,757/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,374/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,804/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,514/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,172/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($61,953/yr), Philadelphia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Philadelphia?
Is rent going up or down in Philadelphia?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Philadelphia?
Has rent outpaced income in Philadelphia?
Which Philadelphia neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Philadelphia rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Philadelphia?
At $1,757/mo, rent takes ~34% of Philadelphia's median household income ($61,953/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Philadelphia.
No discussions yet.