Philadelphia, U.S.A.
Living in Old City, Philadelphia
Historic district with cobblestone streets. Independence Hall, art galleries, and weekend nightlife.
A one-bedroom in Old City rents for about $1,800 - $2,200/month — a safe area (safety 4/5), roughly 10 minutes from Philadelphia center by walk.
Commute to Center
10 min
walk
Safety Rating
4/5
SafeVibe
historicartsnightlife
Rent in Old City
Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,600 - $1,900/mo | $1,800 - $2,200/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $2,000 - $2,400/mo | $2,200 - $2,700/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,500 - $3,000/mo | $2,800 - $3,300/mo |
How Old City compares in Philadelphia
Within AffordWhere's Philadelphia dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $2,000/month — close to the city median, and among the more affordable of the 6 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $2,200 - $2,700/month and three-bedrooms $2,800 - $3,300/month on second-hand contracts. At 10 minutes to the center by walk, it sits about as central as most Philadelphia areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, around the middle in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the historic, arts, nightlife tags, it may suit renters who want to be close to the center.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see University City. For a shorter commute, see Rittenhouse Square.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps 2nd Street as the nearest metro stop, Betsy Ross House as nearby green space and Riverwards Produce - Old City as the nearest supermarket around the Old City reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows a large number of cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Old City, Philadelphia?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Old City costs $1,800 - $2,200/month (second-hand contract) or $1,600 - $1,900/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $2,200 - $2,700/month, and a 3-bedroom from $2,800 - $3,300/month.
- Is Old City safe for expats?
- Old City has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.
- How long is the commute from Old City to Philadelphia center?
- The commute from Old City to Philadelphia city center takes approximately 10 minutes by walk.
- What is Old City like to live in?
- Historic district with cobblestone streets. Independence Hall, art galleries, and weekend nightlife. In our data it is tagged as historic, arts, nightlife.
Other neighborhoods in Philadelphia
Center City
0 min walk to center
1BR from $1,900/mo
businesshistoricwalkable
University City
10 min metro to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
collegediverseinnovation
Fishtown
15 min metro to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
trendynightlifeartsy
Northern Liberties
15 min metro to center
1BR from $1,800/mo
trendyfoodiecommunity
Rittenhouse Square
5 min walk to center
1BR from $2,000/mo
upscaleparksdining
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