Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Pittsburgh?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Pittsburgh?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/mo est.

Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Arlington, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 13% higher in Arlington, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$1,109

+2% in Pittsburgh, PA

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,079

+9% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,269

+10% in Arlington, TX

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,450

+20% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$193,200

+30% in Arlington, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$64,137

+13% in Arlington, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$49,650

+3% in Arlington, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

33.5 yr

+0.1 yr in Arlington, TX

Homeownership

54.8%

47.2%

+7.6 pp in Arlington, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

47.8%

+14.7 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

26.7 min

23.1 min

+3.6 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

436

+12% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

2,315.7

+5% in Arlington, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

51.8°F

+13.6°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

39.3 in

+0.3 in in Arlington, TX

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

21.6

+31% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$19.17

+37% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Pittsburgh, PA

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Pittsburgh, PA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / PA)

6.25%

+0.3 pp in TX

Income Tax (top rate)

None

3.07%

+3.1 pp in PA

Arlington vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Arlington, TX's $1,380, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Pittsburgh?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).