How much does it cost to rent in Philadelphia, PA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Philadelphia, PA is $1,814. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Philadelphia cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

Philadelphia falls in the middle range for Pennsylvania, ranking #63 out of 167 cities at $1,814/mo.

When was Philadelphia rent data last updated?

Philadelphia rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

Jared B / Unsplash

City Report · PA

Philadelphia

Name: Average Rent Prices in Philadelphia, PA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 1,579,706·63rd most expensive in Pennsylvania·Philadelphia rents are up 6.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,814/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

-$151

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Philadelphia · $1,814

More affordable than 53% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Philadelphia's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$1,814/mo

Expected by trend

$1,821/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Philadelphia's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,374

1 BR

$1,514

2 BR

$1,804

3 BR

$2,172

4 BR+

$2,471

Research median

$1,804/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$21,768/yr

At $1,814/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.5% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

1,579,706

Median income

$61,953

Median age

35.3

Renters

48.2%

Age distribution

21.2%

28.4%

24.4%

14.7%

Under 1821.2%

18–3428.4%

35–5424.4%

55–6411.3%

65+14.7%

Gender

47.3%

52.7%

Male47.3%

Female52.7%

Race & ethnicity

35.1%

39.4%

15.6%

White35.1%

Black39.4%

Hispanic15.6%

Asian8%

Other2%

Education (25+)

12.2%

29.7%

22.7%

35.4%

No HS diploma12.2%

HS diploma29.7%

Some college22.7%

Bachelor's+35.4%

Housing tenure

51.8%

48.2%

Owner51.8%

Renter48.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Philadelphia, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,437 → $1,814

up 26.2%

Income

$52,649 → $61,953

up 17.7%

Population

1,596,865 → 1,579,706

down 1.1%

Renter share

47.6% → 48.2%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

32.5% → 35.4%

+2.9 pts

Median age

34.8 → 35.3

+0.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Philadelphia, PA paid around $1,437 a month. That figure now sits near $1,814, up 26.2% 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.

Community

Discussions about Philadelphia

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View Philadelphia rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Philadelphia on your salary?

At $1,814/mo, how Philadelphia rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 23.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 15.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 12.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 35% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 38.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 31.5% income

stretched

By apartment size

Philadelphia rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Philadelphia. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Philadelphia

About renting in Philadelphia, PA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Philadelphia is $1,814/mo as of July 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 35% of local median household income ($61,953/yr), Philadelphia ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Philadelphia an affordable city for renters?

Philadelphia is considered moderate for renters. At $1,814/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($61,953/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Philadelphia slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Philadelphia?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $73,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,814/mo in Philadelphia. The local median household income is $61,953/yr, meaning the typical Philadelphia household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Philadelphia?

Rent in Philadelphia has increased 6.5% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Philadelphia neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Philadelphia are 19124 ($1,182/mo), 19141 ($1,222/mo), and 19126 ($1,243/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Philadelphia is $1,814/mo.

How does Philadelphia rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Philadelphia is middle-of-the-pack for Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #63 out of 167 tracked cities at $1,814/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Philadelphia?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Philadelphia ($1,814/mo): Lansdowne ($1,458/mo), Darby ($1,594/mo), Camden ($1,811/mo).

What percentage of Philadelphia residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.2% of Philadelphia households are renters, while 51.8% are owner-occupied. Philadelphia leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Philadelphia rent compare to the national average?

Philadelphia's median rent of $1,814/mo is $151 (8%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #63 out of 167 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $1,814/mo, rent takes ~35% of Philadelphia's median household income ($61,953/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Philadelphia 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.07%

Run the Philadelphia affordability calculator →

Nearby cities

Camden

$1,811/mo

-$3

Gloucester City