How much does it cost to travel to Philadelphia?
You should plan to spend around $188 per day on your vacation in Philadelphia. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $49 on meals
- $28 on local transportation
- $238 on hotels
A one week trip to Philadelphia for two people costs, on average, $2,638. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Philadelphia has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Philadelphia expensive to visit?
Prices in Philadelphia are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Philadelphia is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Duck or Raleigh.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Philadelphia Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Philadelphia?
The average Philadelphia trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Philadelphia travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$238
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$28
|
Food 2
|
$49
|
Entertainment 1
|
$28
|
Alcohol 2
|
$10 -
31
|
Accommodation Budget in Philadelphia
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Philadelphia is $119. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Philadelphia is $238. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Philadelphia? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Philadelphia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Philadelphia is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $28 per person, per day, on local transportation in Philadelphia.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$28
How much does it cost to go to Philadelphia? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Philadelphia will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Philadelphia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Philadelphia can vary, the average cost of food in Philadelphia is $49 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Philadelphia should cost around $19 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Philadelphia is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$49
Typical prices for Food in Philadelphia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Philadelphia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Philadelphia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Philadelphia typically cost an average of $28 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$28
Typical prices for Entertainment in Philadelphia are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Philadelphia, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Alcohol Budget in Philadelphia
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $21 on alcoholic beverages in Philadelphia per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$21
Last Updated: Mar 14, 2024
Philadelphia On a Budget
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the fourth largest urban area, and the fifth largest city in the United States. It's located in southeastern Pennsylvania and has a rich history, having once been the capital of the United States. The city has very impressive architecture, museums, universities, and entertainment venues. It's a cultural and artistic center for the country and it continues to climb as a top travel destination.
Philadelphia's climate is hot and humid in the summer, mild in the fall and spring, and cold in the winter. Snowfall can vary dramatically from year to year with some years seeing only light dustings while other years have major snowstorms. In general, precipitation is spread evenly throughout the year.
Sights
There are plenty of things to see around Philadelphia in the form of museums, parks, and art galleries. Some of the area's popular museums include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Academy of Natural Sciences, and Franklin Institute Science Museum among others. Top historic sights include the Eastern State Penitentiary, the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, Fairmount Water Works, and Independence National Historic Park. Parks are always great places to people watch and take in a city's culture. In Philadelphia some of the top parks include Fairmount Park, Washington Square, and Rittenhouse Square. The Philadelphia Zoo is also a great tourist destination that is worth visiting.
Neighborhoods
The entire metropolitan area covers twelve different counties in three states; Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. The city can be divided into several different districts. Center City East has the City Hall, the Convention Center, Chinatown, Washington Square West, the gay-friendly Gayborhood, and the Broad Street Arts Corridor. Center City West has the art museum district, Rittenhouse Square, and an outdoor shopping area. It also has the central business district and many of the city's skyscrapers. The Old City is the historic center of the city and has Independence Mall, the Liberty Bell,
Constitution Hall, and Independence Hall. South Philly has the Italian Market and many cheap bars and restaurants. It is also home to the famous Philly cheesesteak sandwich. North Philly has many working class neighborhoods as well as Temple University and Northern Liberties. West Philly is west of the Schuylkill River and has University City which includes the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. The Northwest areas have middle and upper class residential neighborhoods and the Northeast area is also predominantly residential.
Activities
Philadelphia is a city filled with culture. Theaters and music venues are abundant and there is always an interesting performance going on somewhere. For sports enthusiasts, there are many hometown teams. The Philadelphia Phillies is the city's professional baseball team. The NFL team is the Eagles and the 76ers is the NBA team. Hockey is the Flyers, and the Philadelphia Union is the soccer team.
Throughout the year Philadelphia also hosts several interesting events including the Philadelphia Marathon, the Philadelphia International Championship (a 144-mile bike race), AIDS Walk Philly, the Mummers Parade, and an All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival. If you're planning a few days, check out this
3-day itinerary for Philadelphia.
Food and Dining
Philadelphia has some great restaurants, but it also has some really great street food. The Philly cheesesteak is probably the area's most famous local specialty, but some other popular options include Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, scrapple, and soft pretzels. Local flavors are abundant throughout the city and you should try as many options as you can while you're in town. Hoagies, stromboli, and tomato pie are particularly popular. Tomato pie is a type of pizza that is made with the sauce on top. There are both thin and thick crust versions available.
If you're interested in dining out in this town, a wide variety of options are available, from fast food to family-friendly to high-end luxury. See this great
guide to where to eat in Philadelphia to get an overview of the best restaurants.
Transportation
Philadelphia is one of America's more walkable cities. In the compact tourist areas you can enjoy some interesting walking tours that will take you by some of the more popular sights. There is also a subway and bus system which you can use to navigate the city, or you can take taxis which are plentiful, but can be quite expensive. The subway system has two elevated lines: the Broad Street Orange Line and the Market-Frankford Blue Line, as well as surface or "trolley" lines. The surfaces lines include five streetcar lines that run along different avenues in West Philadelphia, coming together at the subway portal at 40th St. and Woodland Ave.
Philadelphia International Airport is the largest airport in the area and is a short taxi ride from the city. Taxi's to the airport should cost about $30. It is also connected to the city by SEPTA R1 Regional Rail Line.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.