Philadelphia - PA vs Seattle - WA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 87% more expensive than Philadelphia - PA in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 26.3%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Philadelphia vs Seattle: what the numbers say

At today's 7.40% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $2,138 a month in principal and interest in Philadelphia and $3,989 in Seattle, a gap of $1,851 a month.

Typical rent runs $1,903 in Philadelphia and $2,250 in Seattle, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.1 times rent in Philadelphia and 1.8 times rent in Seattle, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 16.9 years of rent in Philadelphia and 26.7 in Seattle; the lower ratio in Philadelphia means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved +5.4% in Philadelphia and -2.9% in Seattle; over just the last three months the change was +0.7% in Philadelphia and -0.3% in Seattle.

Homes sell for 100.1% of list price in Philadelphia and 99.3% in Seattle, after 15 and 27 days on the market, with price cuts on 26% and 34% of listings. All three signs point the same way: buyers have more room to negotiate in Seattle.

The number of homes for sale is up 9% on a year ago in Philadelphia and up 20% on a year ago in Seattle.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-15), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.