Is Pittsburgh expensive to live in?

Pittsburgh is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,079 per month ranks #57 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Pittsburgh?

Average rent in Pittsburgh, PA runs a studio around $1,109, a one-bedroom around $1,079, a two-bedroom around $1,269, a three-bedroom around $1,450 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,079 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,137.

How much does it cost to live in Pittsburgh per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Pittsburgh is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Pittsburgh, PA

Population 303,620 · Pennsylvania

~$1,300/mo est.1BR $1,079Home $193,200

Photo: Venti Views / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,079 a month — about the same as the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,109 and two-bedrooms $1,269.

Median household income here is $64,137, 8% lower than the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,300 before food and transport. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,079

Studio

$1,109

1 Bedroom

$1,079

2 Bedroom

$1,269

3 Bedroom

$1,450

Buying a Home$193,200

Median Home Value

$193,200

Income$64,137

Median Household Income

$64,137

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,650

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities21.6¢/kWh

Electricity

21.6¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$19.17/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (PA)6% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 3.07%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime436 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

436

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

2,315.7

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 33.5 yrs

Median Age

33.5 yrs

Homeownership

47.2%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

47.8%

Avg Commute

23.1 min

Climate51.8°F

Avg Annual Temperature

51.8°F

Annual Precipitation

39.3 in

Pittsburgh cost of living — FAQ

Is Pittsburgh expensive to live in?: Pittsburgh is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,079 per month ranks #57 of 112 and is about the same as the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Pittsburgh?: Average rent in Pittsburgh, PA runs a studio around $1,109, a one-bedroom around $1,079, a two-bedroom around $1,269, a three-bedroom around $1,450 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,079 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year. The median household income here is $64,137.
How much does it cost to live in Pittsburgh per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Pittsburgh is about $1,300 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Pittsburgh with nearby cities

Pittsburgh vs Cleveland Pittsburgh vs Frederick Pittsburgh vs Columbus Pittsburgh vs Charleston Pittsburgh vs Buffalo Pittsburgh vs Washington

Nearby cities

Cleveland, OH 115 mi Frederick, MD 154 mi Columbus, OH 162 mi Charleston, WV 169 mi Buffalo, NY 179 mi Washington, DC 190 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.