Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Pittsburgh?

Austin 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).

Austin vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 22% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 30% higher in Austin, 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.

Austin, TX

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$1,109

+18% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,079

+26% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,269

+29% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,450

+32% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$193,200

+62% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$64,137

+30% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$49,650

+13% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

33.5 yr

+1.0 yr in Austin, TX

Homeownership

44.4%

47.2%

+2.8 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

47.8%

+10.4 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

23.1 min

+0.9 min in Austin, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

436

+8% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

2,315.7

+30% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

51.8°F

+15.4°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

39.3 in

+4.4 in in Pittsburgh, PA

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)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

21.6

+31% in Pittsburgh, PA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$19.17

+37% in Austin, 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 Austin, 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

Austin vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Pittsburgh?: Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 22% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Pittsburgh?: Austin 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).