($1,636) Movers From San Francisco, CA to Philadelphia, PA

What to know before moving from San Francisco to Philadelphia

Moving from San Francisco to Philadelphia means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in San Francisco than in Philadelphia, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how San Francisco compares to Philadelphia so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Philadelphia are 48% lower than in San Francisco, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Philadelphia.
  Home prices in Philadelphia are 82.5% lower than in San Francisco.
• Income in Philadelphia is 48.2% lower than in San Francisco, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Philadelphia include Amtak, Comcast, and COFCO.
• The cost of living for a single person in Philadelphia is 32.8% lower than in San Francisco. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Philadelphia is 29.0% lower than in San Francisco.
• The unemployment rate in Philadelphia is 96.30% higher than in San Francisco.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Philadelphia, since the city’s sales taxes in Philadelphia are 7.30% lower than in San Francisco.
• One perk of moving to Philadelphia is paying less in state income taxes, which are 76.92% lower than in San Francisco.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,016.13 in Philadelphia to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in San Francisco.

How life is different in San Francisco vs. Philadelphia

• The population of Philadelphia is about 98% greater than San Francisco, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Getting around Philadelphia without a car might be more difficult than in San Francisco. Philadelphia has a public transportation score of 9 out of 10, whereas San Francisco is ranked 10. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• Philadelphia neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as San Francisco. Based on its score of 75 out of 100, Philadelphia isn’t as walkable as San Francisco, which has a score of 99 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in Philadelphia, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than San Francisco. While San Francisco has a bike-friendliness score of 99 out of 100, Philadelphia earned a 67. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• The crime rate in Philadelphia is higher than in San Francisco, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 66.09 in Philadelphia, it is 61.41 in San Francisco. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Philadelphia. With a crime index of 33.91, Philadelphia ranks lower in overall safety than San Francisco, whose index is San Francisco's 38.59. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• You can breathe easy knowing that Philadelphia has better air quality than in San Francisco. Philadelphia has Good air quality, compared to moderate in San Francisco. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.

Other things to consider for your San Francisco vs. Philadelphia move

• Weather: Philadelphia has hot and muggy summers and the fall and spring are generally mild, and winter is moderately cold. If you are planning a summer move make sure to check the weather to avoid overall humid and hot days,
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services. Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Pennsylvania moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Pennsylvania does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Philadelphia. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.In Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Philadelphia

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Philly", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Philadelphia.

Helpful moving resources