Are you considering visiting Philadelphia but need a helpful nudge to buy your plane ticket or fill up your gas and hit the highway? If so, read on as we highlight six main reasons to love Philadelphia.
There’s a misconception about Philly’s food scene. Namely, people seem to think the cuisine in Philadelphia revolves around cheesesteaks and hoagies.
Undoubtedly, sinking one’s teeth into either of the delicious sandwiches mentioned above will provide one of many reasons to love Philly. Yet, there’s so much more to experience with the city’s cuisine, featuring a sprawling ecosystem of restaurants with flavors capturing the essence of many cultures’ cooking styles, including (but not exclusive to):
Some hidden gems in the city include the
South Philly Barbacoa,
Pizza Brain, and
Zahav. Zahav was recognized in
2019 with the James Beard outstanding restaurant award.
Some
iconic local delicacies include the Philly soft pretzel (purchased from a street vendor), TastyKakes, water ice, tomato pie, and scrapple.
Perhaps, the reason for Philly’s thriving culinary scene is the lower cost of living compared to cities like New York. As a result, chefs can be more experimental without risking the financial future of the restaurant.
We’ll use New York as our benchmark for the affordability of Philadelphia. After all, these are two big cities that offer similar living experiences.
Philadelphia is about
40% less expensive than New York.
Thus, Philadelphia could be your best bet if you want the big city experience without the Big Apple pricing.
For further comparison, the average rent for a studio apartment in Chelsea, New York,
is $3,695. A one-bedroom apartment is under $4,800 in the same area.
Comparatively, a one-bedroom apartment rental in Rittenhouse in Philadelphia costs under
$2,500 per month, and a studio apartment averages
$1,229 per month.
Philadelphia exceeds the national average for cost of living–but it’s wise to compare Philly to other major cities. As the numbers show with New York, grading Philadelphia on the big-city curve proves its affordability.
Keeping the above notions in mind, consider these stats:
It’s suggested that two adults with a child must
earn a combined yearly income of $72,270 (after taxes) to afford Philadelphia’s cost of living. For further context,
according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary in Philadelphia is over $70,000–and that’s for one person. So, the income you can earn in Philly more than holds its own against living costs.
History buffs have many reasons to love Philadelphia, as the city is steeped in the lore of yesteryear.
More to the point, Philadelphia is America’s first World Heritage City and the US’s birthplace, as it’s where the Founding Fathers brought the country to life.
Many successful efforts have been made to preserve Philadelphia’s history, such as the city’s iconic Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were drafted and signed). And who can forget the Liberty Bell–the eye-catching symbol of the abolitionist movement.
Historic houses, churches, cemeteries, government buildings, and museums comprise the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. This area is known as America’s most historic square mile and is visited by millions yearly.
From there, Old City and Society Hill offer eye-pleasing, history-packed alleyways for pedestrians to explore.
There are also multiple history museums in Philly, such as:
Sites like the Valley Forge National Historical Park–made legendary by the American Revolution–can also be found in the Greater Philadelphia Region.
Are you a nature lover? Or are you an outdoorsy type who likes to seek adventure?
Big-city living may not seem conducive to outdoor hobbies, interests, and pursuits. Yet, the Greater Philadelphia region offers a range of gorgeous trails, nature preserves, parks, and different outdoor attractions. Here are some examples:
One of the best things about Philadelphia is its top-tier walkability. Speaking to this trait is how the city of brotherly love has gained a national reputation for being a great place for pedestrians.
When we say walkability, we’re referring to several factors weighed by researchers, such as:
The Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, and Eagles are like a religion in Philadelphia, where sports reign supreme.
WalletHub recently ranked Philly #5 in its Best Sports Cities survey. While many of the Philly sports faithful might think they deserve #1 (and arguably do deserve #1), the survey included 392 cities. So, finishing in the top 5 tells you there’s something special about Philadelphia’s thriving sports scene.
Moreover, the sports fandom doesn’t end at the mainstream professional level in Philadelphia. There’s also the Philadelphia Union of the MLS, multiple college basketball programs (e..g, Temple, St. Joe’s, and Penn), and the Philadelphia Soul of the AFL.
Speaking further to Philadelphia’s incredible sporting culture is its ability to attract major sporting events, such as:
There are enough reasons to love Philadelphia to fill a book. However, we suggest visiting and finding out for yourself what there is to love. You may never want to leave once you arrive–and if you decide to stay, contact GM Holdings about finding a suitable rental!
