Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 18% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,109
+22% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,079
+21% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,269
+15% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,450
+13% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$193,200
+45% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$64,137
+18% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$49,650
+1% in Charlotte, NC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.9 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
51.5%
47.2%
+4.3 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
47.8%
+0.4 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.1 min
+1.9 min in Charlotte, NC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
436
+41% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
2,315.7
+38% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
51.8°F
+8.1°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
39.3 in
+2.3 in in Charlotte, NC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
21.6
+43% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$19.17
+30% in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC
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 (NC / PA)
4.75%
6%
+1.3 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
3.07%
+0.9 pp in NC

Charlotte vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Pittsburgh?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).