Philadelphia

**mnmarty03** · 04-05-2008, 11:16 AM

Hey! I'm just FULL of questions today... I have another post going (career choices in the Question and Answer area) but I wanted to ask a question about a little different topic so I thought I'd start it's own post.

Does anyone live in Philadelphia!? I've been doing research online all morning on it and feel that it could really be ideal!

I've been able to find some estimates for apartments in safe neighborhoods and the cost for public transportation.

I was wondering though what the grocery costs are. What are the main stores you shop at, and what does food cost? What do you pay on average for fresh produce (i.e. bananas), milk, cereal, eggs, and other staples? Are there fresh produce markets in season that are good and decently cheap? How much would a single person spend on average for food a month?

Also... Is Philadelphia safe for a single 23 year old woman?

Do you like living there? Or would you suggest one of the other east coast cities mroe (considering I need to have a place with a great zoo - this is one of the reasons I'm moving).

Any advice for relocating there?

Basically - just share anything you want to! Thanks a bunch!

**mnmarty03** · 04-05-2008, 11:17 AM

p.s. I'm going to be moving in the near future (next 1-2 months) and am trying to work out the details of where to. I forgot to explain that in my post.

**mnmarty03** · 04-05-2008, 11:21 AM

p.p.s. I'm not really single, but would be living there on my own until early 2009.

**Jill B.** · 04-05-2008, 02:48 PM

My 23 DD lives in Philly. She lives in "center city" area near "Antique Row". She shares a 2 bedroom, 5th floor walk up apt. with a friend. Total rent is $910 plus utilities. She is a vegetarian but probably spends $25-40 a week on food.
Philly has a nice farmers market in summer and all year round it has the open air market on 9th St. called the Italian market. You can get good cheap veggies there and very nice other types of food.
Philly has a great public transportation system with buses, underground trains, etc. It is easy to get around on a bike or walking because much of it is flat. There are alot of art museums, history and parks and of course the zoo.
However, parts of Philly are very bad and most of it is pretty ugly (I worked downtown for a few years and we live about an hour away now). My DD went to Temple Univ. and there are many coffee shops and things to do cheaply. There are a lot of young people there due to the universities. But, like I said, it is ugly!!!
Hope that helps.

**staciah** · 04-05-2008, 03:01 PM

I live on the other side of the river in South Jersey.South Jersey is considered the suburbs of Philly. Philly is a very nice city. A lot to do just like the last post said. Also like she said there is ALOT of crime there. Philly has one of the highest murder rates in the country.Everyday (Im not lying about everyday) someone is getting killed there so I'm sure it's going to be one of the highest this year too. They did get a new police commissioner in there this year but I haven't seen any big changes yet. Washington also has a nice zoo if thats why you are moving to the east coast.

**mnmarty03** · 04-06-2008, 11:41 AM

Thanks guys! I did find that the crime rates are pretty high there...I think I'll have to face that no matter where I go, since I'm looking at moving to one of the larger cities out there.

From what I remember from when I was there and the pictures I've seen, parts of it are pretty to me, and parts of it are ugly..again, that's something that'll have to be faced with most big cities.

We are thinking seriously about Washington DC as well. The zoo there is great, and we know people who live there (which would help me get situated). I've been there once previously...

My goal today is to look up more information about our various other cities that are top on our list for moving.

Thank you very much for the input though!