Budget · Philadelphia · United States
Philadelphia on a budget
What a trip to Philadelphia really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Philadelphia is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $90–$150 per person per day on a tight budget, $220–$380 mid-range and $550–$1,300 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $90–$150 a day
- Mid-range
- $220–$380 a day
- Luxury
- $550–$1,300 a day
- Local currency
- USD
- Free sights
- 7
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $90–$150 | $270–$450 | $450–$750 | $630–$1,050 |
| Mid-range | $220–$380 | $660–$1,140 | $1,100–$1,900 | $1,540–$2,660 |
| Luxury | $550–$1,300 | $1,650–$3,900 | $2,750–$6,500 | $3,850–$9,100 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Philadelphia, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| SEPTA subway or bus ride | about $2.50–$2.90 |
| Cheesesteak | about $14–$20 |
| Soft pretzel from a street vendor | about $1–$2 |
| Hoagie from a deli | about $10–$15 |
| Major museum adult ticket | about $25–$35 |
| Pint of local beer | about $6–$9 |
| Mid-range Center City hotel | about $170–$300 per night |
Money-saving tips
- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Elfreth's Alley, Boathouse Row and the Rocky Steps cost nothing.
- BYOB restaurants save a lot on dinner; buy wine at a state store beforehand.
- Reading Terminal Market lunches are filling and much cheaper than sit-down restaurants.
- Use the SEPTA Airport Line rather than a taxi if you are travelling alone or as a couple.
- Hotel rates rise sharply during big conventions, university graduations and Eagles home games; check dates before booking.
- Budget for an 8% sales tax and an 18–20% tip on top of menu prices.
Free things to do
- Independence Hall — The Georgian brick State House where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the US Constitution was drafted in 1787 is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Liberty Bell Center — The cracked bell, inscribed with 'Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land', became a symbol for abolitionists and suffragists long after it hung in the State House.
- Elfreth's Alley — A narrow cobbled lane off 2nd Street lined with about 30 small brick houses built between the 1720s and 1830s, often described as the country's oldest continuously inhabited residential street.
- 9th Street Italian Market — Awning-covered stalls of produce, butchers, cheese shops and bakeries run along 9th Street in South Philadelphia, in what is often called the oldest open-air market in the country.
- Boathouse Row and the Schuylkill River Trail — A line of 19th-century rowing clubhouses on the Schuylkill River behind the art museum, outlined in lights after dark.
- Rittenhouse Square — One of the five squares in William Penn's 1682 plan, Rittenhouse is the city's favourite park for people-watching, with bronze animal sculptures that children climb, a reflecting pool and benches under plane trees.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers, solo travellers and budget
Fishtown
Former industrial river ward turned brewery, music venue and restaurant district
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and culture
East Passyunk and South Philly
Rowhouse blocks, the Italian Market and a diagonal avenue of neighbourhood restaurants
$$ · Best for culture, families and quiet stays
Fairmount and the Art Museum area
Parkway museums, Eastern State's castle walls and Kelly Drive by the river
Eating well for less
- Soft pretzel — Street vendors on Center City corners, pretzel bakeries and the Pennsylvania Dutch stalls in Reading Terminal Market.
- Tomato pie — Italian bakeries in South Philadelphia and the Northeast, sold by the slice or the sheet.
- Scrapple — Diners and breakfast counters across the city, including the breakfast stalls in Reading Terminal Market.
- Tastykake — Every convenience store and supermarket in the region.
Getting around for less
SEPTA Key card
A reloadable card for subway, bus, trolley and Regional Rail fares; it gives cheaper fares than cash and allows transfers.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Philadelphia cost?
About $1,100–$1,900 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $450–$750 on a tight budget.
+Is Philadelphia expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Elfreth's Alley, Boathouse Row and the Rocky Steps cost nothing.
+How much money do I need per day in Philadelphia?
Roughly $90–$150 on a budget and $220–$380 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Philadelphia?
Usually in January–February.