An increasing number of New Yorkers are relocating to Philadelphia and then travelling back and forth to New York for work, mainly due to the city’s affordability, writes Jason Peters for Metro Philadelphia.
A recent Stanford University study shows that the number of Philadelphians commuting over 75 miles has increased by 28 percent since the pandemic began. This trend mirrors a nationwide rise, with long-distance commutes in the country’s 10 largest cities already up by 32 percent.
Deepak Mohan commutes to New York from Philadelphia five days a week. He works in electrical construction.
“I used to live in Jersey before my marriage, but because of the cost, New York was never an option,” he said.
He pays $1,250 for a monthly Amtrak pass, which is around $30 per ride.
Despite the sometimes high cost of transportation, relocating to Philadelphia offers savings elsewhere, as the cost of living in New York City is 55 percent higher than in Philadelphia, according to Redfin and Salary.com.
For example, in New York City, the average rent for an apartment is $5,421, while in Philadelphia, it is significantly lower at $1,800. The rent gets cheaper further away from the city’s center in both cities.
Read more about super commuters between New York and Philadelphia in Metro Philadelphia.
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