Head-to-head comparison
Boston vs Philadelphia
Full head-to-head breakdown
Add your passport to see the visa-free stay each city allows.
Your passport — optional
Adds your visa-free stay days to the visa rows in the table below.
Matchup
Boston vs Philadelphia
Full score breakdown below
Nomad Scores
Boston vs Philadelphia at a glance
Nomad Scores — add your passport in the tool above to see your visa-free stay in each city.
Nomad Score
Boston69/100
Philadelphia69/100
Monthly cost (solo)
Boston$1,422
Philadelphia$1,139
Cost of living (incl. 1BR)
Boston$4,822
Philadelphia$3,110
Fiber download
Boston361 Mbps
Philadelphia334 Mbps
Boston vs Philadelphia: which is better for digital nomads?
The first number most nomads check — the Nomad Score — favors Boston at 69/100 over Philadelphia's 69/100, by 0 points. Under the hood, that score is a weighted average where affordability leads the mix at 35%.
Connectivity holds up on both sides. Fixed fiber averages 361 Mbps in Boston and 334 Mbps in Philadelphia at 21 ms and 12 ms latency. Boston wins on raw speed, while mobile downloads run 345 Mbps and 485 Mbps for working away from the flat.
Living alone in a new city is easier where it feels safe: Boston rates 6.0/10 and Philadelphia 3.5/10 on the safety index — Boston top.
Philadelphia is the budget-lean option. A solo nomad budgets about $1,422 a month in Boston versus $1,139 in Philadelphia; a 1BR in the centre runs $3,401 against $1,971. All in, living costs land at $4,822 and $3,110 respectively — roughly 36% apart, in Philadelphia's favor.
Philadelphia also leads on climate, index 78 against 72. If calendar weather matters, Boston peaks in Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep and Philadelphia in May, Jun, Aug, Sep.
Bottom line. Boston wins where it is hardest to compromise: how safe the streets feel. Everything else in this comparison is closer to a wash.
Boston vs Philadelphia — FAQ
+Is Boston or Philadelphia cheaper to live in?
Boston costs about $4,822 a month for a solo digital nomad ($1,422 spending plus $3,401 for a 1BR in the centre). Philadelphia comes to $3,110 ($1,139 plus $1,971 for rent). Philadelphia is the cheaper base, about 36% less.
+How much does a couple spend in Boston vs Philadelphia?
For two people sharing, monthly costs run about $2,246 in Boston and $1,799 in Philadelphia.
+Which city has a higher Nomad Score, Boston or Philadelphia?
Boston is ahead with 69/100, against 69/100 for Philadelphia (a 0-point margin). Affordability is the heaviest pillar at 35%, followed by connectivity (25%), climate and safety (15% each) and visa freedom (10%).
+Which city has faster internet for remote work?
Boston has the faster fixed connection at 361 Mbps versus 334 Mbps, with 21 ms vs 12 ms latency.
+Is Boston or Philadelphia safer for digital nomads?
Boston scores 6.0/10 for safety versus 3.5/10 in Philadelphia.
Keep comparing
More head-to-heads featuring Boston and Philadelphia.