Advantages & Disadvantages of Moving to Philadelphia

You think about moving to Philadelphia?

Make sure to check out all the pros and cons of living in Philadelphia first to avoid common mistakes in this regard!

Living in Philadelphia – Overview

Advantages of Living in Philadelphia

1. Property prices are pretty low in Philadelphia
2. Rents in Philadelphia are affordable
3. Housing shortage is not a big problem yet
4. It will not take you long to find a suitable place to stay
5. Average person can afford a decent home
6. People in Philadelphia are friendly
7. You will have many people helping you out
8. Easy to socialize in Philadelphia
9. You can meet people from all over the world
10. You can experience many different cultures
11. You can try many different foods
12. Philadelphia has a decent art scene
13. Many museums to visit in Philadelphia
14. Interesting architecture in Philadelphia
15. Philadelphia is an interesting commuter city
16. Philadelphia is close to the coast
17. Philadelphia is not too far away from other big cities
18. Philadelphia is an important economic region
19. Decent future outlook for Philadelphia
20. Population is growing in Philadelphia
21. Philadelphia has become increasingly popular over the past decade
22. Average person can make a decent living in Philadelphia
23. People are welcome from all over the world
24. You will find most things you need within walking distance
25. Philadelphia provides the comfort of a big city
26. Many decent bars and clubs in Philadelphia
27. Many leisure activities to choose from
28. Philadelphia has decent sports teams
29. Chances are that you will never get bored in Philadelphia
30. Relatively low living costs compared to other big cities in the US
31. Philadelphia is not as crowded as other major cities
32. Good medical infrastructure in Philadelphia
33. Public transport is decent near the city center
34. Philadelphia has good schools and colleges
35. Philadelphia has a big international airport
36. Philadelphia is known all over the US
37. You can enjoy big city life in Philadelphia
38. You can experience real seasons in Philadelphia
39. You can enjoy the snow
40. Better air quality compared to other major cities in the US
41. Decent shopping opportunities in Philadelphia
42. Philadelphia is a bike-friendly city
43. You may not need a car to get around

Property prices are pretty low in Philadelphia

One advantage of living in Philadelphia is that property prices are pretty low compared to other major cities in the US.

Consequently, while you would have to spend lots of money on your home if you lived in New York City, you only have to spend a fraction of this sum for the same home and will have much more money left to spend on other things.

Rents in Philadelphia are affordable

Not only property prices are relatively low, but also rents are still reasonable and affordable for most of the general public.

Hence, housing is not as costly as in other major cities and you will therefore be able to save and invest more money for retirement or for other important things of daily life.

Housing shortage is not a big problem yet

Since demand for housing in Philadelphia is not as high as in other big cities in the US, housing shortage is not a big problem yet and most people find a suitable place to live without having to take that much effort.

It will not take you long to find a suitable place to stay

Not only will you have good chances to find a good place to stay, but you will also not have to search as long compared to moving to San Francisco where it would often take you months to find a suitable place to live and some people even never find what they are looking for.

Average person can afford a decent home

Since property prices are still reasonable, the average person can still afford a decent home and a decent lifestyle at the same time without having to spend a high fraction of his or her income on housing.

People in Philadelphia are friendly

Another upside to living in Philadelphia is that people are really friendly and outgoing and you will have an easy time making new connections and friends since you can have interesting conversations with strangers on a daily basis and some of those people will become really good friends in the long run.

You will have many people helping you out

Not only are people really friendly, but most people in Philadelphia will also help you out in case you get into trouble or need guidance in various different ways.

Consequently, you can count on the support of the general public when it comes to minor issues and can also count on your friends for big favors in case you urgently need support to overcome difficult periods in your life.

Easy to socialize in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is also a great place to meet up with many interesting people and to socialize since there are so many occasions on which you can just start talking to people and they will usually be inclined to get in touch with you.

For instance, if you wait for the bus, you can just start a conversation and can build many social contacts in the long run so that you can spend your time with like-minded people and will never have to fear getting socially isolated.

You can meet people from all over the world

Another reason for moving to Philadelphia is that you can meet many people from all over the world.

In fact, Philadelphia has become increasingly attractive to foreigners since it offers everything people expect from a big city while rents are still far lower compared to many other places around the world.

In turn, you can meet many interesting people and learn many different languages in a rather playful manner.

You can experience many different cultures

By talking to people from all over the world, you can also experience and explore many different cultures.

Not only can this be really interesting, but you will also see the world from a different perspective and can really grow in character in the long run.

You can try many different foods

Another benefit of living in Philadelphia is that you can also try many different foods.

Due to many different cultural influences, you can try tasty dishes from all over the world and will also get lots of inspiration regarding what you want to cook at home so that you can really expand your knowledge in this regard in the long run.

Philadelphia has a decent art scene

Moving to Philadelphia can also make quite a lot of sense for you in case you are a full-time artist or just interested in art as a hobby since you can meet many like-minded people and can share your ideas.

In turn, you can become a much better artist over time and can also build a strong network that can help you become more famous in the long run.

Many museums to visit in Philadelphia

Another upside to moving to Philadelphia is that the city has many nice museums to offer and you can therefore spend your leisure with many interesting exhibitions.

Interesting architecture in Philadelphia

You should also know that Philadelphia is an architecturally interesting place and you can experience buildings in many different shapes and forms.

Hence, if you are an architect or just interested in architecture, Philadelphia can be a great place to live for you.

Philadelphia is an interesting commuter city

Since Philadelphia is not too far away from NYC, it can also be a great commuter city.

In fact, many people work in New York City but live in Philadelphia to save lots of money on rent so that they can save and invest more money and can also spend more money on other nice things.

Philadelphia is close to the coast

While Philadelphia is not directly located at the coast, it is still close enough to make nice weekend trips with your family and enjoy the beaches during summertime.

Philadelphia is not too far away from other big cities

Due to its proximity to other big cities like NYC and Washington D.C., you can also make nice day trips to those other cities in case you want to experience something different to make your life more exciting.

Philadelphia is an important economic region

Since Philadelphia is among the biggest cities in the US, it is also a pretty important region and the state will do everything to make this place attractive for many years to come and by moving to Philadelphia, you can really benefit from this development in the long run.

Decent future outlook for Philadelphia

Due to population growth and its size, Philadelphia also has a pretty decent future outlook in general and will stay an important place for the state and the country for many decades.

Population is growing in Philadelphia

If population is growing in a region, this also often indicates that a region prospers and will be on the right track. Hence, since population in Philadelphia has been growing significantly over the past decade, this may also indicate good growth and prosperity in the future.

Philadelphia has become increasingly popular over the past decade

Philadelphia has also become increasingly popular by people from all over the US since property prices and rents are still affordable while Philadelphia still provides decent quality of life and many amenities and people from all over the country may move to Philadelphia and may make the region an even better place to live.

Average person can make a decent living in Philadelphia

Another benefit of moving to Philadelphia is that you can also work for many renowned companies and if you have good education and a fancy degree, chances are that you will find a well-paying job pretty easily.

People are welcome from all over the world

Since Philadelphia is a pretty friendly and tolerant city, people are welcome from all over the world and you don’t have to worry in this regard since your ethnicity and your cultural background will not really matter as long as you are friendly and tolerant yourself.

You will find most things you need within walking distance

Since Philadelphia provides decent public infrastructure, you will also find most things you need for daily life within walking distance and can get those things within a reasonable amount of time without having to drive to other cities as would be the case if you lived in a smaller town.

Philadelphia provides the comfort of a big city

Philadelphia also provides the comfort of a big city in general and you will just find most things you need to live a happy life and don’t have to compromise that much.

Many decent bars and clubs in Philadelphia

While you will not have the same selection of nice bars and clubs as in many other big cities, you will still be able to enjoy decent nightlife in Philadelphia and will find many locations where you can party until the early morning.

Many leisure activities to choose from

Since Philadelphia is a big city, you will also have more than enough leisure activities to choose from.

While you can go to the movies, you can also spend your time playing many different sports or just hanging out in bookstores and chances are that you will find more than enough things to do to really enjoy your leisure.

Philadelphia has decent sports teams

Not only can you play many sports yourself, but you can also watch the games of many famous sports teams while many other people who live in smaller towns don’t have this luxury.

Chances are that you will never get bored in Philadelphia

Since there are so many things to do, chances are that you will never get bored with living in Philadelphia and will always find exciting events to participate in.

Relatively low living costs compared to other big cities in the US

Another advantage of moving to Philadelphia is that living costs are pretty low compared to other major cities.

For instance, if you go for a drink in Philadelphia, it is often far cheaper compared to getting the same drink in NYC or in other fancy regions and this can save you lots of money in the long run.

Philadelphia is not as crowded as other major cities

While Philadelphia is a big city, it is still not as crowded as many other major cities in the US and this gives you more space to move and it will also be easier for you to find a place where you are alone and can relax from your stressful life.

Good medical infrastructure in Philadelphia

You will also find many good doctor’s offices and hospitals in Philadelphia and in case you get sick or need urgent medical treatment, you will find real specialists helping you out in this regard so that you get the best medical treatment possible.

Public transport is decent near the city center

Public transport in Philadelphia is also decent as long as you live near the city center and don’t live in the suburbs.

In such a case, it will be pretty easy for you to get around by train or bus in an efficient manner.

Philadelphia has good schools and colleges

Philadelphia can also be a great place to live for families since there are many good schools and colleges and you can therefore make sure that your kids get the best education possible to give them a good start for their future lives and careers.

Philadelphia has a big international airport

It is also pretty easy to get from Philadelphia to various parts of the world since you can just use the Philadelphia international airport and will reach many exotic destinations in a pretty efficient manner.

Philadelphia is known all over the US

Philadelphia is also known by people from all over the US and if you talk to people in other regions and they want to know where you come from, you can just say Philadelphia and don’t have to give lots of additional information as would be the case if you lived in a smaller town.

You can enjoy big city life in Philadelphia

Philadelphia really has the vibe of a big city and if you love the feeling of big city life, you can enjoy it in Philadelphia while you still don’t have to spend as much money on housing as in other major cities out there.

You can experience real seasons in Philadelphia

Since Philadelphia has warm summers and relatively cold winters, you can experience real seasons and this can make your life more interesting compared to other people who live in San Diego or other warmer regions where seasonality only plays a minor role in the overall climatic conditions.

You can enjoy the snow

Since you will often have strong winters, you can also really enjoy the snow in Philadelphia.

Not only can this be great for you as an adult, but it can also be awesome for your kids and you can also make many nice memories and take nice pictures.

Better air quality compared to other major cities in the US

While air quality in Philadelphia is not excellent, it is still better compared to other major cities in the US and this makes it less likely that you suffer from serious health problems sooner or later since your risk of suffering from pulmonary or cardiovascular diseases will be lower.

Decent shopping opportunities in Philadelphia

Philadelphia also offers many decent shopping opportunities and you will find more than enough stores to get what you are looking for and will also have many fancy boutiques to choose from.

Philadelphia is a bike-friendly city

Another reason to move to Philadelphia is that it is a pretty bike-friendly city and that you don’t need a car for short distances and can rather use your bike to protect our environment and to slow down global warming.

You may not need a car to get around

If you live close to the city center, you may not even need a car to get around at all but can rather use your bike or just walk short distances so that you don’t have to deal with traffic jams.

As you can see, there are many advantages of moving to Philadelphia.

However, it is still not all sunshine and we also have to talk about the negative things that come along with it so that you can better decide whether you still want to move to Philadelphia or rather want to live in a different city instead.

Disadvantages of Living in Philadelphia

1. High crime rates in Philadelphia
2. Homelessness is a serious problem
3. Overall level of inequality is high
4. Social tensions are a problem in Philadelphia
5. Rents in Philadelphia have increased significantly over the past decade
6. City becomes increasingly crowded
7. Housing shortage may become a big problem in Philadelphia in the future
8. Average person may no longer be able to afford a decent lifestyle
9. Nightlife in Philadelphia is not as great as in other major cities
10. Many people don’t feel safe in Philadelphia
11. Philadelphia is not directly located at the coast
12. You have to deal with strong winters
13. You may not spend as much time outdoors as in other warmer places
14. Landscape is not that awesome in Philadelphia
15. Not that many recreational spaces in Philadelphia
16. Public transport is rather poor outside the city center
17. Water scarcity may become a serious problem in Philadelphia
18. Wildfires may burn down your home
19. Traffic is a big problem in Philadelphia
20. It takes time to get from one end to the other
21. Unemployment is a real problem in Philadelphia
22. Hard to find decent jobs for low-qualified people
23. Philadelphia is not the most popular city among tourists
24. Philadelphia is not the most glamorous city
25. You will not see many celebrities in Philadelphia
26. Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Philadelphia
27. Philadelphia is not for you if you don’t like big city life
28. Many dodgy neighborhoods in Philadelphia

High crime rates in Philadelphia

One problem with moving to Philadelphia is that the city has a pretty high crime rate and this increases overall level of insecurity and also leads to a state where people often don’t want to leave their homes anymore, especially at nighttime.

In turn, this greatly decreases overall quality of life and if you are a careful person, you may not want to move to Philadelphia but rather want to choose a safer place to live instead.

Homelessness is a serious problem

As in many other big cities, homelessness is a big problem in Philadelphia and you will also see many people who are quite miserable and have lost control over their lives and this is just not a pretty picture.

Overall level of inequality is high

You should also know that the overall level of inequality in Philadelphia is pretty high and the situation may become even worse just a few years from now, especially in case rents and property prices increase further and the average person may struggle to pay basic expenses for daily life.

Social tensions are a problem in Philadelphia

Due to an increasing level of inequality, also social tensions have increased substantially over the past years and if this trend continues, people in Philadelphia may no longer be friendly and helpful anymore since they will often be in a pretty bad mood since they have to worry about their future and how to survive.

Rents in Philadelphia have increased significantly over the past decade

Another disadvantage of living in Philadelphia is that even though rents and property prices are lower compared to many other big cities, property prices and rents still have increased significantly over the past years and if this trend continues, people may have to spend more and more money on housing and will no longer be able to make a decent living anymore.

City becomes increasingly crowded

While Philadelphia is still not as crowded as NYC or other major cities, it has still become increasingly crowded over the past years since population is growing significantly and space constraints may become a serious problem in various parts of life in the future.

Housing shortage may become a big problem in Philadelphia in the future

Since population in Philadelphia is increasing, also the demand for housing increases as well and housing shortage may become a serious problem in the future. In turn, property prices may increase even further and it may also take you longer to find a suitable place to live.

Average person may no longer be able to afford a decent lifestyle

Since housing costs have increased significantly and will likely also continue to increase in the future, the average person may no longer be able to afford many nice things and may have to spend too much of his or her income on housing and may also no longer be able to save and invest enough for retirement.

Nightlife in Philadelphia is not as great as in other major cities

Another downside to living in Philadelphia is that while you will have many bars and clubs to choose from, nightlife will still not be as great as in many other major cities and you may get bored with it sooner or later and may wish to live in a different city in this regard.

Many people don’t feel safe in Philadelphia

Due to high crime rates and many homeless people, many people in Philadelphia just don’t feel safe in this city anymore and secretly wish to live in a safer place where they don’t have to worry about spending their time in public.

Philadelphia is not directly located at the coast

While you can spend lots of time at the beach if you move to San José or other places on the coast, you will not have this luxury in Philadelphia since you would have to drive for a while until you reach the beach and can therefore don’t take a surf during lunch break.

You have to deal with strong winters

While some people like the snow, others don’t like strong winters at all and if you belong to the second group of people, chances are that you would be better off moving to a warmer place instead.

You may not spend as much time outdoors as in other warmer places

Since you will have to deal with strong winters and will also not be able to experience as much sunshine as in other places, you may also not be able to spend as much time outdoors and may rather sit at home. In turn, your overall lifestyle may not be as healthy and your chances of becoming depressed may also be higher.

Landscape is not that awesome in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is also not surrounded by beautiful landscape and this means that you will also not have as many opportunities to spend time in nature as in many other regions in the US.

Not that many recreational spaces in Philadelphia

You will also not find that many recreational spaces within the city and may have a hard time finding nice places to relax from your stressful daily life.

Public transport is rather poor outside the city center

Another downside to moving to Philadelphia is that public transport is pretty poor outside the center and if you live in the suburbs, you may need a car to get around since public transport is pretty unreliable and you may therefore have to spend lots of money on gas.

Water scarcity may become a serious problem in Philadelphia

You should also be aware of the fact that Philadelphia may run out of water sooner or later due to climate change and in case this happens, water scarcity may become a serious problem and overall quality of life may drop significantly.

Wildfires may burn down your home

Not only water scarcity may become a big problem, but also wildfires may burn down your home and in case this happens, you may not only lose your home but also your life if you are really unlucky and don’t leave the region soon enough.

Traffic is a big problem in Philadelphia

Since Philadelphia is a big city, traffic is a serious problem and due to population growth, it has become even worse over the past years.

Consequently, you will have to spend lots of time in traffic jams and this may become really annoying in the long run.

It takes time to get from one end to the other

Since Philadelphia is such a big city, it also takes quite a lot of time to get from one end to the other, especially during rush hour where you would often lose lots of time in traffic jams.

Unemployment is a real problem in Philadelphia

Unemployment rate is also much higher compared to the rest of the US and you may therefore have a hard time finding a job in Philadelphia unless you have a fancy degree and are also able to provide lots of value to the corporate world.

Hard to find decent jobs for low-qualified people

The job market in Philadelphia is especially bad for people who only have low qualification levels and don’t have any digital skills and if you belong to this group of people, chances are that you will end up unemployed or have to work under pretty poor conditions sooner or later.

Philadelphia is not the most popular city among tourists

Philadelphia is also not the most popular city for tourists and if you want to talk with as many people from all over the world as possible and want to make friends with those tourists, chances are that you will also be better off living in more popular cities.

Philadelphia is not the most glamorous city

You should also know that Philadelphia is just not the most glamorous city and that your friends may not want to visit you and you may therefore miss many of your old connections once you move to this place.

You will not see many celebrities in Philadelphia

Compared to other major cities in the US, you will also not be able to meet as many celebrities in Philadelphia and if you love the glamor and also want to see movie stars or other famous people in person, you should rather move to Los Angeles instead.

Your friends may not understand your decision of moving to Philadelphia

Since Philadelphia is also not the most glamorous city, your friends may also not understand your decision of moving to this place and you may have to justify quite a lot in this regard.

Philadelphia is not for you if you don’t like big city life

While many people love to live in a big city, you may just be different and if you want to live in a rather quiet place, you should not move to Philadelphia but rather move to smaller towns where you don’t have to deal with big city life and its drawbacks.

Many dodgy neighborhoods in Philadelphia

You should also know that there are many dodgy neighborhoods in Philadelphia and you should take your time to figure out certain no-go areas to avoid any issues in this regard before you finally move to Philadelphia.

Top 10 Moving To Philadelphia Pros & Cons – Summary List

Should You Move To Philadelphia?

While Philadelphia can be a great place to live since property prices and overall living costs are pretty low and you can enjoy many amenities that come along with living in a big city, Philadelphia also has a pretty high crime rate and homelessness is a big problem.

Hence, make sure to check out all the advantages and disadvantages of moving to Philadelphia carefully so that you can better decide whether you still want to move to Philadelphia or rather want to live in a different city instead.

Alternative Cities To Live In

If you don’t want to move to Philadelphia anymore, you should also have a look at the following articles:

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Anaheim

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Houston

Advantages and disadvantages of living in Phoenix

Sources

https://www.phila.gov/

About the author

This site is about living, moving and traveling to various parts of our fascinating planet.

My name is Andreas and when I was younger, I traveled the world and learned a lot about different cultures and countries.

Thus, I want to share my experiences with you so that you can benefit from them and avoid common mistakes in this regard.

In my articles, you will find everything you need to find the best location for a happy and successful life.