City comparison
No. Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 204 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Philadelphia is cheaper. Median rent is $1,397 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Philadelphia and Colorado Springs is significant: $61,953 median household versus $84,818. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Philadelphia costs less and Colorado Springs pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Colorado Springs has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Colorado Springs are 1,578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $251 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $22,865 (37%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 200 in Colorado Springs, down 61 points (23%).
The move
Colorado Springs and Philadelphia are 1,578 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, down $251 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $22,865 (27%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 261 in Philadelphia, up 61 points (31%).
Philadelphia, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Colorado Springs, CO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Philadelphia and Colorado Springs? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
Philadelphia rent is 15% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Philadelphia
Winner$1,397/mo
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Typical rent runs $1,397 a month in Philadelphia versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Philadelphia is 15% 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 $3,012, 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 Colorado Springs.
Planning to buy in Philadelphia? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
37% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 37% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 37% higher in Colorado Springs (about $22,865 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, Colorado Springs 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
23% lower crime
Colorado Springs's crime index is 23% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs
Winner200 (100 = avg)
Colorado Springs's crime index is 200 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 23% lower in Colorado Springs. 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, Colorado Springs 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
4% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 4% more comfortable than Colorado Springs
Philadelphia
Winner59°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 83/100
Colorado Springs
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Philadelphia averages about 59°F (67°F highs); Colorado Springs averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Colorado Springs averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Philadelphia scores 4% 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 Colorado Springs if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Philadelphia is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% 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.
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (59°F) beat Colorado Springs on this page's weather index by 4%. Colorado Springs may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Colorado Springs is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 37% higher here ($84,818). Start with Colorado Springs if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Colorado Springs is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 23% lower than Philadelphia (200 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
Philadelphia is cheaper on rent ($1,397/month vs $1,648), but Colorado Springs's $84,818 median income beats Philadelphia's $61,953 by 27%. Remote workers paid on Colorado Springs scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Colorado Springs still pays more locally ($84,818 median income vs $61,953), which can offset the lease if your field pays Colorado Springs rates.
Typical rent stays $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Colorado Springs; Philadelphia only makes sense when $1,397/month housing savings outweigh $84,818 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Philadelphia and Colorado Springs, plus other cities in PA and CO.
