Philadelphians are moving to these places in PA, with plenty of perks including significantly cheaper rent.
The cost of living keeps climbing, and the squeeze is especially being felt in the Philadelphia region. In the Philly area, the consumer price index increased by 5.4% between June 2025 and 2026, outpacing the national average of 3.5%. Housing costs rose even faster, growing 6.5%.
People move away from Philadelphia for all sorts of reasons, like job opportunities or wanting to be closer to family. But cost—especially the cost of housing—is also a significant reason people move away from the city, as its price tag continues to rise.
We decided to take a look at where Philadelphians who leave the city are actually moving—and which of those places have cheaper rent.
We looked at the IRS’s most recent county-to-county migration data, which tracks taxpayer address changes between one year and the next. The latest data available show address changes from 2022 to 2023.
For this analysis, we only included PA counties that received at least 100 movers from the city and had typical rents at least 10% lower than Philly in both 2023 and today. For rent prices, we used the Zillow Observed Rent Index, which estimates the typical market-rate rent across all housing types in a given county and weights different types of rentals to reflect an area’s actual rental housing stock.
As of July 2026, the typical rent in Philly, according to Zillow, was $1,797.
We found 11 places where Philadelphians are moving and where typical rents are much less expensive, ordered by the number of Philly residents who moved there.
Reading and Berks County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,517
Berks County is quite convenient to Philadelphia, with Reading—the fourth largest city in the state—as its urban center. Reading itself is just over an hour from Philadelphia’s Center City—a long daily commute, but definitely possible. In addition to a relatively quick trip to the big city, Berks County residents get easy access to the outdoors as well as cheaper housing costs. According to Zillow, the typical rent in Berks County is $1,517, roughly 16% cheaper than in Philly.
Pittsburgh and Allegheny County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,524
Pennsylvania’s second-largest city is an ideal place for Philadelphians who still want big city living. Pittsburgh has a lot going for it: big city amenities, historical significance, rich culture, unique neighborhoods, and a relatively low cost of living. Pittsburgh (population about 308,000) is much smaller than Philly (population about 1.57 million), but the typical rent in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County is $1,524, about 15% less than the typical rent in Philly.
Lancaster County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,558
Lancaster County offers the benefits of the lively and walkable small-city atmosphere of Lancaster City plus the beautiful surrounding countryside of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Rents are also cheaper than in Philly, with the typical rent of $1,558 about 13% lower than the typical rent there.
Harrisburg and Dauphin County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,411
Dauphin County and the capital city of Harrisburg offer a charming small city environment, the gorgeous Susquehanna River, and the job opportunities that come with being the seat of state government—plus a convenient, roughly hour-and-a-half Amtrak ride to Philadelphia. The typical rent of $1,411 is about 22% less than Philly’s typical rent.
York County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,410
South-central Pennsylvania’s York County is conveniently located near a number of big-city hubs while offering affordability and small-town charm. York itself offers a vibrant and revitalized downtown as well as easy access to Maryland—Baltimore is just about an hour away by car. Harrisburg, about a half hour away, is also close. The typical rent of $1,410 is about 22% cheaper than that of Philly.
Wilkes-Barre and Luzerne County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,327
Philadelphians are heading to NEPA and enjoying cheaper rents in places like Luzerne County, which is anchored by Wilkes-Barre. Luzerne County has a number of outdoor opportunities, with post-industrial cities like Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton surrounded by mountains. And just to the northeast, you can find Lackawanna County and Scranton. In Luzerne County, the typical rent of $1,327 is about 26% cheaper than in Philly.
Cumberland County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,622
Another south-central Pennsylvania county, Cumberland County, is adjacent to Harrisburg’s Dauphin County—county seat Carlisle is just 30 minutes to Harrisburg and part of that metro area. The small town of Carlisle also has a historic, walkable downtown and, for nature lovers, is close to the Appalachian Trail. Rents are about 10% cheaper than those in Philly.
Scranton and Lackawanna County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,352
Lackawanna County and the city of Scranton—the seventh-largest city in the state—offer the benefits of small-city living, including affordability. Post-industrial Scranton specifically has a vibrant and growing arts scene, is close to parks and recreation areas, and offers a strong sense of community. The typical rent in Lackawanna County is $1,352, about 25% lower than the typical rent in Philly.
Johnstown and Cambria County
Typical rent, July 2026: $875
Cambria County, which includes Johnstown, has some of the cheapest rents in the entire state. Indeed, the typical rent in Cambria County is less than half that of Philadelphia. The Western Pennsylvania county would require a dramatic lifestyle (and geographic) change from Philly, with its smaller towns dotting the Allegheny Mountains. But with mountains and small towns comes scenery, outdoor opportunities, and the connections of small communities.
Schuylkill County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,213
Schuylkill County is a collection of small towns, each offering its own attractions, though each is still relatively close to Philadelphia—the county seat of Pottsville is less than two hours away. The county is located in the anthracite coal region, and the culture of many of its towns reflects that industrial heritage. The typical rent in Schuylkill County is $1,213, about 33% cheaper than in Philly.
Carbon County
Typical rent, July 2026: $1,238
Carbon County sits amid the Pocono Mountains and can be quite an attractive escape for Philadelphians looking to escape the big city for a mountain town. The county is anchored by the small town of Jim Thorpe, within the picturesque Lehigh Gorge and famous for its scenic mountain setting and nearby outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and whitewater rafting. The typical rent in Carbon County is $1,238, roughly 31% cheaper than Philly’s typical rent.
Where are the collar counties?
You might have been expecting to see the PA counties surrounding Philadelphia—Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester counties—on this list. These four suburban counties do receive the most residents leaving Philly—after all, most people who move away don’t move very far. But rents (and home prices) in the collar counties are not cheaper than in the city, so we didn’t include the suburbs.
