Side-by-side · Software Engineer
Boston vs Philadelphia
Move Value
+$23k
real, after tax + COL · per year
Career Velocity
7/10
Boston: 9/10 → regression
10-Year Outlook
+$223k
± $136k confidence band
| Boston | Philadelphia | |
|---|---|---|
| P50 salary, role | $158k | $128k |
| State + local income tax | None | None |
| After-tax income | $118k | $98k |
| Cost of living (US = 100) | 162 | 102 |
| Median 1BR rent | $3184/mo | $1901/mo |
| Real purchasing power | $73k | $96k |
| Career Velocity (this role) | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Career Velocity v1 (0–100) | 18 · Thin | 18 · Thin |
| Walkability (0–10) | 9 | 8 |
| Outdoors (0–10) | 7 | 6 |
Who should make this move
Choose Philadelphia if…
- ·You want $23k more real income per year on day one.
- ·Your 10-year picture lands $223k ahead.
- ·East Coast walkability and culture at a Midwest cost.
Stay in Boston if…
- ·Career Velocity is higher in Boston (9/10 vs 7/10) for your field.
- ·You're optimizing for what Boston uniquely offers: biotech, education, and finance — small footprint, dense talent.
A note on the numbers: Salaries are role-P50 from BLS-style bands. Tax is statutory state + local at ~$110k single. The 10-year outlook uses a 3-year promotion cadence with a small velocity adjustment, 2.5% COL inflation, and discounts to today's dollars. Full assumptions on the methodology page.