Cost of Living Comparison Between Philadelphia, PA and Franklin, TN Cost of Living Comparison Between Philadelphia, PA and Franklin, TN

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,958 per month in Philadelphia, PA vs $3,236 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

A couple spends around $4,388 per month in Philadelphia, PA vs $4,338 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

A family of three spends $5,817 per month in Philadelphia, PA vs $5,439 in Franklin, TN, rent included.

Philadelphia, PA is about 9% cheaper than Franklin, TN, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Philadelphia, PA and Franklin, TN sit above the global median – Philadelphia, PA by 121%, Franklin, TN by 142%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.74 $19.74

$28.26 $28.26

-30.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$88.7 $88.7

$78.6 $78.6

12.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$11.77 $11.77

2.21%

Cappuccino

$4.93 $4.93

$6.79 $6.79

-27.39%

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

$2.70 $2.70

$3.11 $3.11

-13.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$2.48 $2.48

-21.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.98 $5.98

$7.46 $7.46

-19.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.80 $6.80

$7.91 $7.91

-14.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 $1.37

$1.34 $1.34

2.24%

White Bread (500g)

$4.13 $4.13

$3.93 $3.93

5.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$10.28 $10.28

$4.29 $4.29

139.63%

Eggs

$4.49 $4.49

$5.60 $5.60

-19.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.12 $15.12

$15.54 $15.54

-2.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.67 $13.67

$11.16 $11.16

22.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.23 $21.23

$15.29 $15.29

38.85%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.84 $3.84

59.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 $2.24

$1.98 $1.98

13.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.17 $5.17

$4.13 $4.13

25.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.20 $5.20

$4.58 $4.58

13.54%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 $3.28

$2.01 $2.01

63.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.88 $2.88

$2.17 $2.17

32.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.03 $3.03

$2.52 $2.52

20.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 $2.44

$2.11 $2.11

15.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.68 $12.68

$9.81 $9.81

29.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.03 $15.03

$12.90 $12.90

16.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 $1.94

$1.78 $1.78

8.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 $4.10

$3.27 $3.27

25.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.54 $2.54

$1.03 $1.03

146.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$94.1 $94.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.97 $2.97

$3.51 $3.51

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.64 $1.64

-3.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.44 $22.44

$29.70 $29.70

-24.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 $0.86

$0.81 $0.81

6.17%

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

$27.1K $27.1K

$29.9K $29.9K

-9.38%

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

$25.4K $25.4K

$25.5K $25.5K

-0.15%

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

$270 $270

$216 $216

24.80%

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

$61.9 $61.9

$117 $117

-47.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.3 $77.3

$74.4 $74.4

3.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.48 $49.48

$41.79 $41.79

18.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.90 $32.90

Cinema Ticket

$14.92 $14.92

$15.75 $15.75

-5.27%

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

$2,044 $2,044

$400 $400

410.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$43.1K $43.1K

$23.1K $23.1K

86.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 $51.1

$50.7 $50.7

0.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.53 $42.53

$65.1 $65.1

-34.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.7 $93.7

$73.6 $73.6

27.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$141 $141

$111 $111

27.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 $1,791

$1,750 $1,750

2.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,388 $1,388

$1,781 $1,781

-22.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,149 $3,149

$2,685 $2,685

17.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,263 $2,263

$2,379 $2,379

-4.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,044 $4,044

$2,774 $2,774

45.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,844 $1,844

$2,804 $2,804

-34.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,475 $4,475

$6,115 $6,115

-26.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.68

6.45

3.57%

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

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: June 1, 2026

Last update for Franklin, TN: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,791 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,750 in Franklin, TN. 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 37% higher in Franklin, TN, 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 $89.0 in Philadelphia, PA versus $79.0 in Franklin, TN. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $487 vs $398 – making Franklin, TN 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

Philadelphia, PA vs Franklin, TN: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,958 in Philadelphia, PA, $3,236 in Franklin, TN – roughly 9% apart. Franklin, TN costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,437 per month in Philadelphia, PA and $4,855 in Franklin, TN. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,958 in Philadelphia, PA and $3,236 in Franklin, TN. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $2,044 per month in Philadelphia, PA and $400 in Franklin, TN. 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 $2,958 in Philadelphia, PA and $3,236 in Franklin, TN. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Philadelphia, PA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,958 in Philadelphia, PA to $3,236 in Franklin, TN. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Franklin, TN makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.