City comparison
No. Austin's crime index is 162 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 130 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
The income gap between Philadelphia and Austin is significant: $61,953 median household versus $93,658. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,729 in Austin.
Austin is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Austin is the stronger move.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Philadelphia at $1,397 average has pockets that run $1,197 and others at $1,797: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Philadelphia and Austin are 1,435 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $332 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $93,658 in Austin, up $31,705 (51%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 162 in Austin, down 99 points (38%).
The move
Austin and Philadelphia are 1,435 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $332 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $31,705 (34%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 261 in Philadelphia, up 99 points (61%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
19% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 19% cheaper than Austin
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Austin
$1,729/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,729 in Austin, so Philadelphia is 19% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $3,984, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Philadelphia still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Austin.
Planning to buy in Austin? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
51% higher
Austin's median income is 51% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Austin
Winner$93,658
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 51% higher in Austin (about $31,705 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Philadelphia can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
38% lower crime
Austin's crime index is 38% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Austin
Winner162 (100 = avg)
Austin's crime index is 162 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Austin. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Austin is the easier city. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
20% more comfortable
Austin weather is 20% more comfortable than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Austin
Winner76°F avg · 85°F highs · comfort 100/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Austin averages about 76°F (85°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin sits near 76°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Austin scores 20% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Philadelphia if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 19% cheaper here at about $1,397 a month. Choose Philadelphia if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 51% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 76°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Austin is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Philadelphia (162 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Austin leads on safety (45/100 vs 31/100 in Philadelphia). Typical rent is $1,729 in Austin and $1,397 in Philadelphia; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Philadelphia rent at $1,397/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,729 in Austin.
Between Philadelphia and Austin, Austin is ahead on safety — 45/100 safety versus 31/100. Lean Philadelphia instead when you already know the Philadelphia block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Austin when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Austin, plus other cities in PA and TX.
