Is Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. cheaper?

Philadelphia is cheaper on average. A mid-range day in Philadelphia costs about $150 vs $160 in Washington, D.C., so Philadelphia saves you roughly $10 per day compared to Washington, D.C..

How do daily costs in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. compare?

In Philadelphia: budget ~$80–130/day, mid-range ~$150–250/day, luxury ~$300+/day. In Washington, D.C.: budget ~$80-130/day, mid-range ~$200-330/day, luxury ~$500+/day.

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Philadelphia vs Washington, D.C.

Q: Is Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. safer?

Washington, D.C. scores higher on our safety index (70/100 vs 68/100). Tourist areas of DC — the National Mall, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Foggy Bottom — are generally safe during the day and well into the evening.

Q: Which has better weather, Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.?

Philadelphia has the more temperate climate year-round. Four distinct seasons. Humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Spring and fall are the sweet spots for walking the historic district.

Which destination is right for your next trip?

🏆 Philadelphia wins 83 OVR vs 80 · attribute matchup 3–2

Philadelphia

United States

83OVR

Washington, D.C.

United States

80OVR

Safety

Affordability

Food

Culture

Nightlife

Walkability

Nature

Connectivity

Transit

Philadelphia Guide →Washington, D.C. Guide →

Philadelphia

United States

Washington, D.C.

United States

Philadelphia

Safety: 62/100Pop: 1.57MAmerica/New_York

Washington, D.C.

Safety: 70/100Pop: 700K (city), 6.3M (metro)America/New_York

💰 Budget

budget

Philadelphia: $80–130Washington, D.C.: $80-130

mid-range

Philadelphia: $150–250Washington, D.C.: $200-330

luxury

Philadelphia: $300+Washington, D.C.: $500+

🛡️ Safety

Philadelphia62/100Safety Score✓66/100Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia has significant neighborhood variation. The historic district, Rittenhouse Square, and Fishtown are generally safe tourist zones. North Philadelphia and Kensington have serious crime issues — avoid wandering into unfamiliar neighborhoods at night.

Washington, D.C.

Tourist areas of DC — the National Mall, Capitol Hill, Downtown, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Foggy Bottom — are generally safe during the day and well into the evening. Like any major US city, DC has neighborhoods with higher crime, mostly in parts of Southeast and Northeast that tourists rarely visit. Petty theft, car break-ins, and occasional phone snatching are the main concerns.

⭐ Ratings

Philadelphia5/5English Friendly5/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia4/5Walkability4/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia4/5Public Transit✓5/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia5/5✓Food Scene4/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia4/5✓Nightlife3/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia5/5Cultural Sites5/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia3/5Nature Access3/5Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia5/5WiFi Reliability5/5Washington, D.C.

🌤️ Weather

Philadelphia

Four distinct seasons. Humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Spring and fall are the sweet spots for walking the historic district.

Spring (Mar–May)10–20°C

Summer (Jun–Aug)28–35°C

Fall (Sep–Nov)10–22°C

Winter (Dec–Feb)0–5°C

Washington, D.C.

Washington, DC has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are famously hot and sticky (the city was built on reclaimed swampland), while winters are cold but rarely extreme. Spring and fall are glorious and are the best times to visit.

Spring (March - May)5-22°C

Summer (June - August)20-32°C

Autumn (September - November)7-26°C

Winter (December - February)-2-8°C

🚇 Getting Around

Philadelphia

Philadelphia has an extensive SEPTA transit network covering the city by subway, trolley, and bus. Center City is very walkable.

Walkability: Very walkable in Center City and Old City; most historic sites within 20 minutes on foot

SEPTA Subway — $2.50/ride

SEPTA Trolley — $2.50/ride

On Foot — Free

Washington, D.C.

DC has an excellent public transit system run by WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority). The Metro (subway) and Metrobus cover the city and much of the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. A SmarTrip card (or contactless phone tap) works across all Metro, bus, and Capital Bikeshare. Driving downtown is frustrating and parking is very expensive — transit or walking is the way to go.

Walkability: Central DC is one of the most walkable cities in the US, with wide sidewalks, a clear street grid, and short blocks. The National Mall itself is longer than it looks on maps (roughly 3 km end to end), so plan accordingly. Georgetown and Capitol Hill are especially pleasant on foot, though some DC hills can be steep.

Washington Metro — $2.25 - $6.75 per ride depending on distance and time

Capital Bikeshare — $1 to unlock + $0.05/min (classic); day pass $8

DC Circulator & Metrobus — Circulator $1, Metrobus $2.25

The Verdict

Choose Philadelphia if...

you want America's birthplace — Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Reading Terminal's food hall, the iconic cheesesteak, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Rocky steps — the most historically charged US city after DC

Choose Washington, D.C. if...

you want world-class museums (all free), iconic monuments, Metro convenience, and four seasons of American political history

Philadelphia

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Washington, D.C.

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