If she lives along Lombard Street, it's easy access by bike, or the 40 bus, or walking, across the South Street Bridge. Fitler Square, Graduate Hospital and that general area have a lot of Penn employee residents. Still not inexpensive, but I think rents in University City on the west side of the Schuylkill are going to be higher than some on the Center City side. Some people live in South Philadelphia in the regentrifying neighborhoods there and go across the University Avenue (34th St) bridge, but that is probably car travel. Those neighborhoods are transitional and not for everybody.

It
might be helpful if you give us an idea of what you consider expensive.
I'm assuming Penn gave her rentals that are close to the hospital. Will
she be working at the hospital or one of the auxiliary buildings?

There
aren't many bargains anywhere in the city - if you want safe and close.
And remember, just like any large urban area even relatively 'safe'
areas have their share of violent crime. During DH's first year of med
school he was at a deli in West Philly when 3 men came in with a sawed
off shotgun to rob the place. As the counter man was giving them the
money the Sunshine bread man came in with his large trays of bread - the
robbers panicked, shot the delivery guy in the head and ran out. I was
still in Pittsburgh at the time and preparing for my move to Philly and
all I could think of was - this is the city of Brotherly Love?

I
don't want to scare you or your DD. I go into the city frequently, alone
and with DH. Sometimes I take the train, or drive and I've never felt
uneasy. But I wouldn't walk alone late at night and that's good advice
no matter where you are. I honestly don't think Philly is any worse than
many other large cities. It does have a high poverty rate which goes
hand in hand with a high crime rate.

None of my kids have
experienced any significant crime - unless you consider the criminal
activity among the politicians of our faire city. Two of them have had
their car windows broken - one left left his Garmin on the dash and the
other had an empty box in the back. You do have to get used to all the
dings and dents that accompany parking or driving in the city.

This overview of comparative rent was in this week's Curbed; Philly - "What you can get for $1150 a month rent"...

http://philly.curbed.com/2017/4/19/15342294/philadelphia-rent-comparison-rittenhouse-temple-fairmount

All
3 of my kids in Philly - and the rent varies wildly by location as you
can imagine. 2 are in Northern Liberties which is a hot area and
expensive.

One was paying $1100 a month plus utilities for a 800
sq ft condo in a gated community - no parking, no yard but a very nice
cobblestone courtyard. He had a Trinity - which is a uniquely historic
Philadelphia home - one room on each floor with the kitchen in the
basement. He recently bought a larger, nicer condo in the same complex.
He likes the amenities the area offers - a dog park, restaurants, and
close to I 95.

My other son is renting a brand new 'luxury'
apartment about 2 blocks from his brother. His place is about 2500
square feet, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths with 2 car off street parking, a roof
top deck and wet bar with a view of the skyline - and he's paying $2700
plus utilities. These units are also for sale for about $600,000 and
they are the cheapest built construction in the city. He's had constant
leaks, mold issues, the ceramic backsplash is falling off the wall, the
plumbing has clogged repeatedly, they even managed to wire his house
incorrectly and he had too much voltage coming into the house and it
kept shorting out his TV and Computer.

He's giving up on city life and he and my DDIL are moving to the suburbs in July and are hoping to start a family.

DD
rented for 4 years. Her apartment was not in a hot area - but it was
moving up. She was at Green and 11th and the last year of renting she
was paying $1200 for 4 very small rooms - a bedroom, living room,
kitchen and an unheated extra room. No parking, no AC but she had a 12
by 12 yard in the back. It was a rowhome with rowdy Temple students on
the upper 2 floors. The kitchen only had one drawer, her counter space
was 2 by 2, her dishwasher was only 18" and she had an absentee
landlord. By comparison her 1850 sq foot recently renovated rowhome in N
Philly has more space than she can use at the moment - and her street
is quiet and she can always find a nearby parking space.

Parking
is always a hassle in the city. You'll pay a premium if you find a place
with parking. If she can walk or take public transportation to and from
work she'll save herself a lot of aggravation and parking fees. So keep
that in mind when you compare rental prices.

Happy apartment hunting - I hope your DD finds the perfect place.

Maire

Try a little farther west in University City -- but not too far. Many many years ago I lived at 48th and Baltimore Ave. At that time there were still a fair number of old West Philly families who lived in big twin houses. It was on the cusp of change and could go either way -- down or trendy. Well, now it is quite trendy. Lots of nice restaurants and a farm market. It is possible to park on the street there and the trolley takes you down close to Penn Med. Still, I would not walk around there at night and I certainly would not walk home from Penn. I have another friend who lives at 22nd and Bainbridge, which is south of South St and there see to be reasonably priced places there but parking is a headache. Many Penn people live just over City Line Avenue in Merion, Narberth and Wynnewood. They either drive through West Philly or take the SEPTA train to 30th ST Station.

I'm pretty familiar with the area. U of P was a customer of mine and DH and I frequently catch some great jazz performances at the Annenberg Theater. I find the streets pretty busy at night and a lot safer than I remembered when I worked at the Vet School many years ago. Pal's suggestions are very good. Also the commute by train and bus is pretty easy from anywhere in Center City and the areas Ded mentioned. It may be a good idea to speak with a Real Estate Agent that specializes in rentals since your out of town. It really has become a fun area.

dedtired - DH lived at 48th and Spruce his first year - and you are so right - the area has improved significantly.

Thank you for your detailed responses! The job would be in the main hospital building, in the IT department. The apartment buildings that were suggested by the University looked nice and were around $2000 per month for a 1 bedroom (2400 Chestnut and The Left Bank). She has a car and would probably want to keep it but it would depend on the expense of parking and insurance.

The salary offer should be around 6 figures. She currently lives in a very inexpensive area so moving to a high COL area is going to be an adjustment, even with a good salary. She will have to do a lot less eating out and shopping and there will be more temptations.

I'll keep you posted. Thank you for your advice.

Just curious. I'm a native New Yorker. Both DD's live in the city. They have active social lives. Although you have to e street smart every where, would you say Philly is more dangerous than NYC?

The places where my DD go at night are always packed with young people wandering the streets. I have never felt unsafe when we are there as well.

But maybe it's what you are used to?

I think a big difference between Philadelphia and NYC is that everybody in New York seems to take the subway at any time of day, and in Philadelphia, they don't, so you have to rely more on cabs and such. I have felt safer at some times of night in some neighbhorhoods in Manhattan than I would feel in similar sorts of neighborhoods in Philadelphia, because in Manhattan there always seems to be more people out and about no matter the time of night.

It's gotten so darn expensive to live in NYC that the bad guys can't afford it. I feel safer at night in Manhattan. I have no problem in center city Philadelphia at night, although I pay attention to where I am an who is around me.

Have you been in Suburban Station at night lately, Pal? It is loaded with homeless and really uncomfortable to be there. I'd rather take a cab to 30th St and get on the train above ground.

eld- NY has a much higher population density and a significantly lower rate of car ownership so there are more people on the street walking or heading to the subway or hailing a cab. DD went to Columbia and I never worried about her going back to her dorm at night because there were always people around and lots of lights. But depending on the location I wouldn't let her go to a show or concert in Philly unless she had friends or her brothers with her.

BTW, did the Philly get-together ever happen? I was out of town. Just wondering.

Dedtired, I met hhireno for lunch, and we had a great time talking, and finding out that we had a lot in common. We decided to do it again at a restaurant at King of Prussia. I suggest Legal Seafood with is right by Mitchell+Gold and Sur La Table.

How about June?

I could do late june. Would be fun