Median rent is 36% lower in Toledo ($901/mo vs $1,397/mo). Buying is cheaper in Toledo, where the median home runs $114,500 versus $243,100. Households earn more in Philadelphia ($61,953 vs $49,724 a year).
City A
Philadelphia, PA
City B
Toledo, OH
How much would you need to earn in Toledo, OH to maintain your standard of living from Philadelphia, PA?
A cost-of-living index isn't available for one of these cities yet, so we can't compute an equivalent salary.
Based on BEA Regional Price Parity (cost index) for each metro area. This estimates overall purchasing power; it does not account for taxes or take-home pay differences.
Metric
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
Toledo
Ohio
Population
Median Household Income
Annual
Median Gross Rent
Per month
Median Home Value
Cost of Living Index
US avg = 100
1BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
2BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
3BR Fair Market Rent
HUD FMR
Air Quality Index
Lower = cleaner
Top State Income Tax
Top marginal rate
State Sales Tax
Statewide base rate
Median Age
Years
✓ = better value · Sources: Census ACS, BEA, HUD Fair Market Rents, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation
Renters will find significantly cheaper housing in Toledo — median rent of $901/mo versus $1,397/mo in Philadelphia, a 36% difference. Home buyers face a steeper market in Philadelphia: the median home is $243,100 versus $114,500 in Toledo — 53% more expensive.
1BR Fair Market Rent
2BR Fair Market Rent
BLS OEWS 2023 — metro-level data
State tax data is not yet available for these cities.
Philadelphia
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Toledo
Income tax: N/A
Sales tax: N/A
Toledo has cleaner air on average: 32.0 AQI (Good) compared to 54.0 AQI (Moderate) in the other city. Lower AQI means cleaner, healthier air.
Pick Philadelphia if you prioritize higher median household income ($61,953/yr).
Pick Toledo if you prioritize cheaper rent ($901/mo median).
Pick Toledo if you prioritize cleaner air quality (avg AQI 32.0).
Is Philadelphia cheaper than Toledo?
Cost of living index data is not yet available for one or both cities.
How much is rent in Philadelphia vs Toledo?
Median rent is $1,397/mo in Philadelphia, PA and $901/mo in Toledo, OH. Toledo, OH has the lower rent by about 36%.
Which has higher salaries — Philadelphia or Toledo?
Median household income is $61,953 in Philadelphia, PA and $49,724 in Toledo, OH. Philadelphia, PA has the higher median income. Note that BLS occupational wages in the table above show wages for specific jobs.
Which city has better air quality?
Toledo, OH has better air quality on average: 32.0 AQI versus 54.0 AQI. Both are EPA AirNow annual averages; lower is better.
Which has lower taxes — Philadelphia or Toledo?
State tax data is not yet available for one or both cities.
What salary do I need in Toledo to match my Philadelphia income?
RPP data needed for salary equivalence calculation is not yet available.
Data last updated: December 1, 2026 · Sources: US Census ACS, BEA RPP, BLS OEWS, HUD FMR, EPA AirNow, Tax Foundation · Methodology
