Cost of Living Comparison Between Fremont, CA and Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living Comparison Between Fremont, CA and Philadelphia, PA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $4,062 per month in Fremont, CA vs $2,924 in Philadelphia, PA, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,525 per month in Fremont, CA vs $4,248 in Philadelphia, PA, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,988 per month in Fremont, CA vs $5,572 in Philadelphia, PA, rent included.

Fremont, CA costs about 39% more than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fremont, CA and Philadelphia, PA sit above the global median – Fremont, CA by 196%, Philadelphia, PA by 113%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.09 $20.09

$21.68 $21.68

-7.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$76.1 $76.1

$78.8 $78.8

-3.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.91 $11.91

$12.73 $12.73

-6.44%

Cappuccino

$5.28 $5.28

$5.33 $5.33

-0.94%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 $3.08

$3.02 $3.02

1.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.20 $2.20

9.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.79 $8.79

$5.87 $5.87

49.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.93 $9.93

$8.14 $8.14

21.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.46 $1.46

-2.74%

White Bread (500g)

$4.32 $4.32

$4.41 $4.41

-2.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.13 $4.13

$8.58 $8.58

-51.86%

Eggs

$5.71 $5.71

$5.27 $5.27

8.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$19.31 $19.31

$12.00 $12.00

60.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.99 $13.99

$12.91 $12.91

8.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.87 $19.87

$17.87 $17.87

11.19%

Apples (1kg)

$5.16 $5.16

$5.86 $5.86

-11.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 $2.22

$1.72 $1.72

29.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.64 $5.64

$5.25 $5.25

7.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.54 $5.54

$5.10 $5.10

8.63%

Potato (1kg)

$3.58 $3.58

$2.87 $2.87

24.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.09 $3.09

-3.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.33 $2.33

$2.50 $2.50

-6.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.81 $1.81

$2.47 $2.47

-26.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$11.82 $11.82

$13.20 $13.20

-10.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.09 $12.09

$15.22 $15.22

-20.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 $1.79

$2.40 $2.40

-25.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$4.39 $4.39

-46.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.73 $2.73

$2.96 $2.96

-7.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$85.5 $85.5

$99.9 $99.9

-14.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.60 $3.60

$2.69 $2.69

33.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 $1.95

$1.54 $1.54

26.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$29.03 $29.03

$24.42 $24.42

18.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.07 $1.07

30.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.5K $36.5K

$36.4K $36.4K

0.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.7K $25.7K

$26.2K $26.2K

-1.87%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$271 $271

$216 $216

25.27%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$47.14 $47.14

$63.3 $63.3

-25.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.2 $69.2

$68.3 $68.3

1.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.54 $36.54

$81.6 $81.6

-55.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.70 $8.70

$92.0 $92.0

-90.54%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 $15.06

$14.97 $14.97

0.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,824 $1,824

$2,247 $2,247

-18.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$40.0K $40.0K

$42.3K $42.3K

-5.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 $47.86

$48.21 $48.21

-0.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.15 $41.15

$47.54 $47.54

-13.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 $98.4

$98.8 $98.8

-0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 $122

$138 $138

-11.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,936 $2,936

$1,948 $1,948

50.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,616 $2,616

$1,356 $1,356

92.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,026 $4,026

$4,071 $4,071

-1.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,697 $3,697

$2,219 $2,219

66.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,252 $6,252

$4,074 $4,074

53.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,757 $4,757

$1,852 $1,852

156.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$7,623 $7,623

$4,649 $4,649

63.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.12

6.16

-0.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Fremont, CA: September 1, 2026

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,936 in Fremont, CA versus $1,948 in Philadelphia, PA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 64% higher in Fremont, CA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $76.0 in Fremont, CA versus $79.0 in Philadelphia, PA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $459 vs $460 – making Fremont, CA the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Fremont, CA vs Philadelphia, PA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Fremont, CA is pricier by about 39%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,093 per month in Fremont, CA and $4,387 in Philadelphia, PA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Philadelphia, PA, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 17% less in Philadelphia, PA. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $1,824 per month in Fremont, CA and $2,247 in Philadelphia, PA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$2,500 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $4,062 in Fremont, CA and $2,924 in Philadelphia, PA. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

Families tend to lean toward Philadelphia, PA – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Philadelphia, PA. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fremont, CA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.