Cost of Living Comparison Between Philadelphia, PA and Helena, MT Cost of Living Comparison Between Philadelphia, PA and Helena, MT

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,893 in Philadelphia, PA versus $3,115 in Helena, MT.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,276 in Philadelphia, PA versus $4,528 in Helena, MT.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,659 in Philadelphia, PA versus $5,941 in Helena, MT.

Living in Philadelphia, PA costs roughly 7% less than in Helena, MT, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Philadelphia, PA 110% above, Helena, MT 126% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.72 $21.72

$21.80 $21.80

-0.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$78.8 $78.8

$102 $102

-22.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.59 $12.59

$17.74 $17.74

-29.03%

Cappuccino

$5.11 $5.11

$5.10 $5.10

0.20%

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

$3.12 $3.12

$2.25 $2.25

38.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 $2.31

$1.73 $1.73

33.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.83 $5.83

$4.95 $4.95

17.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.16 $8.16

$7.02 $7.02

16.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.40 $1.40

$1.03 $1.03

35.92%

White Bread (500g)

$4.46 $4.46

$3.85 $3.85

15.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$8.36 $8.36

$4.62 $4.62

80.95%

Eggs

$5.18 $5.18

$3.69 $3.69

40.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.99 $11.99

$18.23 $18.23

-34.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$13.06 $13.06

$8.90 $8.90

46.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.46 $17.46

$19.74 $19.74

-11.55%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 $5.71

$4.82 $4.82

18.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.81 $1.81

-6.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.23 $5.23

$4.39 $4.39

19.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.27 $5.27

$4.13 $4.13

27.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.83 $2.83

$2.22 $2.22

27.48%

Onion (1kg)

$3.14 $3.14

$1.48 $1.48

112.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.45 $2.45

$1.64 $1.64

49.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.37 $2.37

$1.56 $1.56

51.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.88 $12.88

$10.40 $10.40

23.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.01 $15.01

$13.05 $13.05

15.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.43 $2.43

$1.72 $1.72

41.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.29 $4.29

$2.61 $2.61

64.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.94 $2.94

$3.57 $3.57

-17.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$101 $101

$60.5 $60.5

66.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 $2.62

$10.05 $10.05

-73.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$3.40 $3.40

-53.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$23.71 $23.71

$44.55 $44.55

-46.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$0.94 $0.94

14.89%

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

$36.0K $36.0K

$36.2K $36.2K

-0.40%

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

$25.7K $25.7K

$30.5K $30.5K

-15.55%

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

$215 $215

$371 $371

-41.95%

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

$64.0 $64.0

$67.0 $67.0

-4.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.5 $66.5

$92.7 $92.7

-28.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.1 $82.1

$51.8 $51.8

58.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$93.2 $93.2

$14.91 $14.91

524.88%

Cinema Ticket

$15.10 $15.10

$11.85 $11.85

27.43%

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

$2,206 $2,206

$1,995 $1,995

10.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$41.6K $41.6K

$27.6K $27.6K

50.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.70 $48.70

$63.8 $63.8

-23.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.40 $47.40

$120 $120

-60.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 $101

$82.1 $82.1

22.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$142 $142

$122 $122

16.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,973 $1,973

$1,767 $1,767

11.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,354 $1,354

$1,548 $1,548

-12.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,110 $4,110

$2,864 $2,864

43.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,193 $2,193

$2,506 $2,506

-12.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,096 $4,096

$3,545 $3,545

15.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,900 $1,900

$2,935 $2,935

-35.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,584 $4,584

$6,885 $6,885

-33.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.16

6.15

0.16%

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

Last update for Philadelphia, PA: September 6, 2026

Last update for Helena, MT: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,973 in Philadelphia, PA and $1,767 in Helena, MT. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Helena, MT pays 50% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $79.0 in Philadelphia, PA vs $102 in Helena, MT. Groceries flip the comparison at $456 vs $388, with Helena, MT cheaper for home cooking.

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 Helena, MT: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Philadelphia, PA and Helena, MT differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($2,893 vs $3,115 including rent). Philadelphia, PA is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 50% lower in Helena, MT. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,973 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,767 in Helena, MT. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $2,206 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,995 in Helena, MT. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Helena, MT pay roughly 17% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,500. Philadelphia, PA is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Philadelphia, PA and Helena, MT are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Philadelphia, PA gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Helena, MT. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.