When it comes to renting, apartments tend to range . If youd like to reach out to the author directly with questions, please do so in the comments below and our team will ensure it gets to the right person. First things first: set a budget. Step 1 of 13. If you buy all the same brand names from back "home", then your cost of living will be significantly higher than if you shop more like a . This additional tax of just under 4% comes out of peoples paychecks in addition to all the other federal and taxes. And if youre looking for more info on moving to Philadelphia, check out our resources for things to do in Philadelphia, Philadelphia neighborhoods, cost of living in Philadelphia, and our Philadelphia move cost guide. We all want to live near people who are at similar points in their lives. You are sure that you want to relocate cross country soon. Grab yourself a water ice (its pronounced wooder) and stroll around. As you may have noticed from the list above, Philadelphia is packed with historical landmarks. Take the Buzzfeed quiz HERE to find out if you should move to Australia. Philly is personal. The Climate in Philadelphia. Really affordable. That might seem like a lot, but its far fewer than cities like New York or Chicago. Philadelphia is sure to enchant you, and youll be even more excited to call it home. 97 to 98% of apartments are full and landlords are capitalizing by rapidly driving up rent in available locations. You enjoy the luxuries and the lively atmosphere of a metropolitan. Also, if you're interested in Pennsylvania, but not sure if Philadelphia is right for you, check out our guide on moving to Pennsylvania. Can You Afford To Live In Panama? But your city might not be on board. He is currently the senior managing editor of Apartment Guide and Rent., based in Atlanta. Most of the time, theyre paid a commission or fee by the owner of the apartment looking for a tenant. Stopping by a restaurant on the way home and being unable to order a cocktail is a uniquely Philadelphia experience. You Need a Place to Live. If you love hot weather and the outdoors, then you might want to try New Zealand or Australia. As Europe's crisis deepens, thousands are moving abroad in search of better economic conditions and a better life. Old City is within a dining district, which means there are many places to go and see right outside your doorstep. Your Cost of Living in Panama *. maybe you should find out if the Paris life is really meant for you. In order to predict . You can ride a bike too. If you need to drive to work after moving to Philadelphia, you may be in for quite a commute. This city is greedy with taxesthink NY or California level of taxes, but with nothing to show for it other than a trail of corruption and high amounts of poverty. The city is for you. The first tip on how to move to Philadelphia is to get your housing lined up. #2 Philadelphia, it definitely has a cultural, hip edge over the remaining two cities, nice getaways, the 2nd best downtown as well with lots of residents. But there are other attractions, too: great restaurants, galleries, flower shows and performing art shows all attract the tourists every year. They are unforgiving for cars parking for even a minute past time. Where should you emigrate? 2023 RentGroup Inc. All rights reserved. Each has something to offer, either to live or to visit. Take in the city, see some sights and keep a close watch out for the bicyclists! 2, Philadelphia, PA 19146. Furthermore, the areas are accessible to public transportation and are easily walkable. If you are thinking about California then you are right. A: Yes, it's definitely worth moving to Philadelphia. For most, moving to Philadelphia doesn't break the bank. February 4, 2020. Maybe you're a South Philly lifer looking for a change or perhaps you're an out-of-towner planning a big move to the City of Brotherly Love. If you were West Philadelphia born and raised, Spruce Hill is where you'd spend most of your days. Below is a transit map for all of Philadelphia. About 25% of residents use public transportation and with average commute time of 45-minutes, its not hard to see why. 3) Affordable living. A boozy brunch followed by some light sightseeing. As soon as youre done, browse through a few of the used book stores in Old City and check out Shane Confectionery, Americas Oldest Candy Store! A one-bedroom apartment in this Jersey community will cost you about $1,700 a month on average. Phone: (267) 214-4784. Located to the north of Northern Liberties, Fishtowns streets are lined with row homes, bars, restaurants, music venues, and art galleries. Lets cover the pros of living in Philadelphia first! A dazzling light show accompanies a concert of the Wannamaker Organ, which is the largest working instrument in the world. Parking is so bad in Philly they even made a reality show about it. Still not sure which Philadelphia neighborhood is perfect to call your home? This area has also become an arts center with an array of studios, galleries and pop-ups. Finding parking in the city is incredibly difficult and where it does exist, its often prohibitively expensive. We want to share our experience with you to help you pick the perfect home. Caroline Leopold is a Philadelphia-based writer who has lived in the city of Philadelphia for over 15 years. Live close to what you love in Queen Village, a deal seeker's respite close to downtown Philly. With that said, lets cover the honest cons of living in Philadelphia. Youll regret it if you dont. Also, the area has hospitals and medical services, which have a national reputation, such as Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Move: If your city gives your plans the thumbs-down You've drawn up elaborate plans for popping the top of your two-bed bungalow. If museums arent your thing, the city has a number of awesome concert venues including, WorldCafeLive which is home to public radios world cafe program. She has also written on entertainment and dance music for the local blog One Fine Philly. Landlords and realtors will almost always run a credit check on you and any roommates youll have. Menu burger Close thin Facebook Twitter Google plus Linked in Reddit Email arrow-right-sm arrow-right Loading Home Buying Calculators How Much House Can I Afford? The lowest point in Philly is 10 feet above sea level near the Delaware River, while the highest point is 445 feet above sea level in Chestnut Hillanother good reason to move to this neighborhood! Everything is within walking distance, and cheap Ubers and taxis are everywhere. Many residents go down the shore to one of the many shore points along New Jerseys coast. John I. A trip to New York can take as little as one hourits easier to get to Manhattan than Pittsburgh! You've got to jump into the deep end. As more people move to Philadelphia and the population continues to grow, you can expect to see even more traffic. If you do know what you want, you can hit the "skip quiz" link on the front . "I love Philly for so many reasons. The Schuylkill River Trail is 75 miles of pedestrian and bike paths that begin in the city and extend to the suburbs. If you absolutely have to have a car, look for an apartment in Fairmount or University City. Median income: $46,116. Our favorite: The City That Loves You Back. Live-work spaces are walking distance to the Farmers Market at Christ Church and the monthly First Friday art expos, making this the go-to neighborhood for young people looking to keep their lifestyle within arm's reach. From HighSpeedInternet.com, this interactive quiz asks which priorities are most important to you to then narrow down the list of cities that best suits your needs. Philadelphia has a huge college population. Next, take a look at this map to understand how the different Philly neighborhoods are laid out across the city. Many residents of neighborhoods with street parking choose to pay for monthly parking in a lot or deck, rather than trying to find a spot near their home each night. It's a wonderful small-big city that's rich in culture, lots of museums, history, fantastic food. Italian cheesesteaks arent exactly light on calories. If anyones planning to move to Philadelphia or anyone having problems with their property damage insurance claims, Id be willing to help! Collection days vary by neighborhood. Opening a new chapter is never easy, but it can become more meaningful if you know where you're heading. A US state quiz might not be able to answer a question like "where should I move?" However, it could suggest the best states to live in the Us - based on your answers. Philadelphia is historically and presently a very racist city. Read more about the methodology behind this project. Hiking an enchanted rain forest. Also, keep in mind Philly is an old city. Should You Move During a Recession? Hopefully, what we've provided will help alleviate some of your anxiety and enable you to decide if Philadelphia is the right place for you. A long commute will make you sad. Despite Phillys parking woes made famous on the A&E show, Parking Wars, the city is navigable by car. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Perhaps you've been debating whether or not it's time to movesomeplace new. The relatively lower cost of living also makes this a more affordable choice for young families who are looking to live in a larger city. Major. With that drop, apartment vacancy rates have dropped to historic lows. For example, the flight from Philadelphia to NYC is only 1 hour! As for deposits, most landlords will require first month, last month, and security deposit (equal to one months rent). If youre concerned about global warming, heres one of the Philadelphia facts you may want to know: is it above sea level? Or perhaps a Tennessean? But the city has seen a recent surge in population growth, and with it economic, financial, employment, housing, income and retail growth. Ranked one of the most affordable major cities on the East Coast, Philadelphia offers big-city employment and educational opportunities mixed with exceptional cultural, sports, and music scenes and a unique place in the . There are dozens of more neighborhood niches in Philly to discover. The bus network has over 200 routes all around the city. Youll see this notated on apartment ads as an OP for owner pays. However, if you want a rental agent to look at a ton of places, they may charge you a fee. Take time to grieve and process your emotions. Visiting Philadelphia before finalizing your decision? Some iconic Philadelphia row homes pictured above. Washington DC is less expensive, but still, Philadelphia boasts a cost of living that is 16% lower overall with housing costs that are 48% lower. As mentioned, the city offers a wide range of cultural and educational opportunities. While moving to Philadelphia has many perks, theres a few things you may not enjoy about living in Philadelphia. As you can imagine, theres no shortage of great weekend getaways when youre desperate for a change of scenery. However, some complain that the neighborhood is too loud on weekend nights when the bars are open, and festivities are in full swing. Are you planning on taking a trip to Paris in the future and possibly staying? Population: 1,584,064. Mary OBrien is a Philadelphia-based blogger, author, and editor. Despite being one of the most populous cities in the nation, Philadelphia boasts a lower cost of living than other comparable cities. We dont judge. What size city would you like to live in? Read more & many more results. It probably goes without saying that a crowded city is prone to having parking challenges. Philadelphia doesnt get nearly enough credit for a city with such great public transportation. Please answer every question with full consideration to get the best state for you! For starters, go to Independence Hall. Explore the city's natural beauty at its many outdoor recreation spots while living in Philly! If cost is no object, look to Rittenhouse or Society Hill. The Big Apple takes a big bite out of residents wallets as the cost of living is over 120% higher than the national average. Take our quiz to find out which neighborhood you should call home. We searched the city to find the best family-friendly activities in Philadelphia, from top-notch museums to fairytale playgrounds. For instance, theres Independence National Historical Park (home to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell), the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Philadelphia History Museum, as well as early government buildings such as the First and Second Banks of the United States. Theres no point looking at places you cant afford, so bust out your calculator and figure out a target monthly rent. Usually open year-round, Philadelphia is known for its many museums, including dozens of outdoor sculptures and murals. The farthest neighborhoods from Center City , If youre fresh out of college, but want to hold on to the college lifestyle for a bit longer, check out, If youre looking to hire a moving company to help you move to Philadelphia we created a list of the, Or, if movers are out of your budget be sure to check out our list of, Lastly, if you need to ship a car be sure to have a look at our list of. What is your favorite thing do to when you go out for the night? Paired with inflation and a massive amount of evictions as a result of COVID relief end, the situation is enough that people are being forced to stay in hotels or shelters. Read More START QUIZ From New Jersey, youll be taking the PATCO train, and from PA youll be taking SEPTA. app for Android and iOS. Within the Washington Square West neighborhood is one of the citys hottest locations, the Gayborhood, where the nightlife is defined by the many LGBTfriendly bars and clubs dotting the area between Walnut and Spruce Streets. The area attracts students from around the world who often settle down in Philly. The area has a decidedly residential feel and folks take pride in the home teams. Honestly, a good list except when considering cost of living..if you are trying to rent it is a huge nightmare. The differences between individual schools within a given district can be huge and, while there is some school choice, it is very limited in scope. More specifically, increases in traffic congestion and air pollution and a decrease in available rental properties. Philadelphia has a special municipality wage tax equal to 3.92% for Philadelphia residents and 3.5% for non-residents who work in the city. Philadelphia is rated the 9th most congested city in America, which commuters spending an average 112 hours per year in traffic. Its that simple. We would be remiss not to mention all the awesome things to do in Philadelphia. (And FYI, we're movers in Philadelphia.) Among them are Philadelphias Magical Gardens and world famous Lorenzos Pizza. If youre 100 percent unwilling to pay a fee, tell the agent that you only want to see apartments where the owner will pay the fee. Back to index. Philly has 25 neighborhoods. The medical institution Graduate Hospital was named for may now be defunct, but the neighborhood's reputation is alive and well. Which neighborhood in Philadelphia is the best fit for me? Many leases end in the spring, around May 31st. The two most common nicknames Philadelphia has are The City of Brotherly Love and Philly, but there are lots of others that you may not have heard of. Owing to many of the advantage listed above, Philadelphia is a great place to raise a family. To help you pick the right place to live in, we bring this Where Should I Move Quiz. It Doesn't Rain As Much in Seattle As You've Heard To start off, let's get the big Seattle rain myth out of the way. The history isnt reserved just for the museums. The cost of living in Philadelphia is about 1.2% higher than the national average. Folks calling this great city home appreciate the many eclectic and unique neighborhoods that give it a small-town feel. Maybe you're a South Philly lifer looking for a change or perhaps you're an out-of-towner planning a big move to the City of Brotherly Love. In Center City and the neighborhoods weve been discussing (Rittenhouse, Old City, Society Hill, Fairmount, Spring Garden), crime rates are very low. Ouch. Philly is the 4th most walkable city in the country. Back to index. >What Philadelphia Neighborhood is Best for Me? While summer days can reach 90F or higher, the evenings will cool to a breezy 70F. The first thing I ask buyers when determining where to start is how long of a commute are you looking for and if you have kids what are your schooling needs. Jennifer Rinnella enthuses about the neighborhood and the city as a whole, We have an incredible balance of museums, sports and arts with an impeccable location, allowing for an equally easy drive to New York, Baltimore, and DC. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Heres their guide on how to recognize potential scammers. Like many Northeastern cities, Philadelphia brings the best of both words to its residents. As Americas official birthplace, this historical and cultural East Coast city has so much to offer. The Should You Move to a New City quiz asks takers to consider their current climate, romantic relationships, job skills, financial situation and sense of adventure as they navigate through a series of 12 questions to determine if they are ready to move. The Northern Liberties area was once a bustling manufacturing district, but back in the 1990s local artists began migrating there due to its charm and affordable studio space. The plan is to link up various neighborhoods and create a more walkable & environmentally-friendly city.