Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,090/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,090 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 29% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,109
+43% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,079
+39% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,269
+42% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,450
+45% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$193,200
+75% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$64,137
+29% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$49,650
+11% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.5 yr
+2.4 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
47.2%
+1.3 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
47.8%
+19.0 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
23.1 min
+5.1 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
436
+27% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,315.7
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
51.8°F
+15.3°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
39.3 in
+25.9 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.40/gal
$3.86/gal
+28% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
33.3
21.6
+35% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.72
$19.17
+7% in Anaheim, CA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / PA)
7.25%
6%
+1.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
3.07%
+10.2 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Anaheim, CA's $2,090, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Pittsburgh?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).