If you love cheesesteak, American history, and having all of the amenities of a major city (without the NYC price tag), moving to Philadelphia might be the right choice for you. Philly has a small-town vibe, a thriving cultural scene, and a relatively affordable housing market. Plus, it’s home to the famed Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross’ house, and the site where our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence. From transportation and the art scene, to how to pronounce “water,” and what “jimmies” are, we’ve got what you need to know before moving to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is a big city with housing for everybody
The City of Brotherly Love is the second-largest city on the east coast, and the sixth-most populous city in the US, with a population of around 1,576,000. It has diverse housing options, from old row homes to sleek new apartment complexes at a range of price points.
Expect moderate weather, with a side of rain
All of Philadelphia’s seasons are pretty temperate, but technically it’s only sunny here about half of the time. It rains more than you’d expect. The city gets an average of 47 inches of rain every year. Showers happen throughout the year, rather than occurring during a particular season. Summers bring hot days, with average temps in the high 80s during July. Expect snow from December to March, especially during February, which usually gets nearly 5 inches of the white stuff.
The local lingo can take some getting used to
Sprinkles are jimmies. Spaghetti sauce is gravy. Water sounds like “wooder.” The plural of “you” is “youse.” Youse get used to it when living in Philadelphia.
Walking and public transport can get you around the city
If you spend a lot of time in the city, you may be better off without a car. City parking can be a nightmare and so can rush-hour traffic. Luckily, Philly is one of the country’s top five most walkable cities, so you won’t always be stuck in a traffic jam. If you don’t feel like walking, try Septa, one of the nation’s most comprehensive bus/subway/commuter rail systems. If you keep your car to commute from the ‘burbs, get an E-Z Pass to ease toll headaches.
History buffs love it here
Philadelphia was founded way back in 1682 and was central to the Revolutionary War. It’s also where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Philly is also home to America’s first library and one of the oldest public hospitals, founded by Benjamin Franklin himself.
Philly is a college town
Philadelphia is really a college town at heart, with the nation’s fifth-largest number of higher education institutions. Living in Philadelphia means being near more than 100 colleges, universities, technical schools, and schools of medicine, that call the greater Philadelphia area home. The Ivy-league University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Thomas Jefferson University are some of the acclaimed institutions that call Philadelphia home.
You can get away for the weekend
While there’s plenty to do in Philadelphia, it’s also ideally situated for day trips. The Shore (Atlantic Ocean), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the Pocono Mountains, New York City, and Washington DC are all less than two hours away and accessible by train or bus.
If you’d prefer a breather closer to home, there are also plenty of scenic green spaces and escapes throughout the city. Fairmount Park alone is home to 63 separate parks. The sprawling 9,200 acres make up a tenth of the city’s land. It also has facilities for all your favorite outdoor activities, including fishing, horseback riding, hiking, golfing, and off-road cycling.
The art scene is killer
Living in Philadelphia you’re sure to become an art aficionado, as there’s no shortage of museums and world-class art galleries. The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is the country’s very first art museum. Don’t confuse it with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Rocky made his famous stair climb.
It’s also heaven for theater buffs
Outside of New York, Philadelphia’s theatrical scene rivals that of any other major city. Sure, you could hop on the train and be on Broadway in only an hour and a half, but there’s no need. See a show at the Walnut Street Theater, the oldest continuously operating theater in the English-speaking world, or a musical at the Kimmel Cultural Campus.
Don’t forget about the music
Philadelphia is one of the best cities for music. It is the birthplace of Billie Holiday and hip hop after all. Big acts perform at The Mann Center and Franklin Music Hall (formerly the Electric Factory). The Theater of Living Arts (TLA) and Union Transfer also host a variety of nationally touring and up-and-coming acts.
Philadelphia is sports mad
Philly is a great city for sports fans, with all four major sports leagues represented: the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles, the Phillies, the Flyers, and, of course, the 76ers. They all play at the Philadelphia Sports Complex in South Philly. Trust us when we say game days are a huge part of living in Philadelphia.
The brews are top notch
Philly has always been a beer town. They’re all about that Yuengling, made at the oldest brewery in America. If you order a “lager” here, you’re getting a Yuengling Lager. Philly also invented ordering a shot and a beer together. It’s called a “citywide,” and you can find it at most bars. For the original, though, head to Bob and Barbara’s in Rittenhouse Square.
The food is also out of this world
Philadelphia cheesesteak is obviously Philly’s contribution to the culinary world. The tourists go to Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. We suggest ordering your “one, whiz wit” from Jim’s South Street, or cozying up to the counter at Carmen’s in the Reading Terminal.
Soft pretzels are another hometown favorite. Tastykake is an iconic Philly brand—try the Butterscotch Krimpets. And they have local delicacies like water ice and scrapple, a fried semi-gelatinous loaf made from pork scraps and trimmings. It’s the Pennsylvania Dutch breakfast of champions. There are great eats for all budgets here, from hole-in-the-wall places to high-end restaurants like Michael Solomonov’s Zahav.
It’s super kid-friendly
Philadelphia is the perfect place for families to put down roots. Most local neighborhoods have parks and playgrounds. You can spend your days at kid-friendly attractions like the Please Touch Museum, The Franklin Institute, and Philadelphia Zoo. Hopefully, you never need it, but Philadelphia also has one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation.
FAQs: Moving to Philadelphia
Philly is probably less expensive than you think. With a cost of living index of 105, living in Philadelphia is slightly more expensive than the average Pennsylvania city. But of course, it’s no average city. It’s also much more affordable than nearby New York. While the Big Apple is the most expensive rental market in the country, Philadelphia is only 35th. Expect to pay around $1,470 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,700 for a two-bedder. Groceries and health care costs are only slightly more expensive than the national average, but the transport costs can sting.
The right Philadelphia neighborhood for you depends on your lifestyle and budget. If you can afford the high rents, upscale neighborhoods like Chestnut Hill and Rittenhouse Square offer beautiful homes and excellent restaurants and brewpubs. Young professionals and students appreciate the more affordable rents and buzzy vibe of Conshohocken, Fishtown, and Northern Liberties. Philadelphia’s suburbs like Langhorne and Levittown are ideal for families.
If you move to Philadelphia with a dog, you won’t be alone. With nearly 48% of Philadelphians owning at least one dog, it has the third-highest rate of dog ownership in the country. With so many dogs around, it’s unsurprising that dogs are welcome in many city spaces, including several restaurants and bars with outdoor seating and dog parks like Schuylkill River Park Dog Run and Orianna Hill Dog Park.
Final thoughts
As you’d expect from a city with as much history as Philadelphia, there is tons to do. Plus, its close proximity (and competition) to places like DC, New York, and Boston have helped create a thriving cultural scene, with great food, bars, and shopping. With so many reasons to move to Philadelphia, we’re sure that we’ll see you in the City of Brotherly Love soon.
Ready to move? Choose from thousands of apartments for rent on Zumper and get yourself a place in Philly.
Related content
