Living Cost Compare
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $75,134 in Chicago, IL and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 15% higher in Chicago, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Chicago, IL
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,186
$1,109
+6% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,258
$1,079
+14% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,269
+10% in Chicago, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,554
$1,450
+7% in Chicago, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$315,200
$193,200
+39% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$75,134
$64,137
+15% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$49,650
+9% in Chicago, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.7 yr
33.5 yr
+2.2 yr in Chicago, IL
Homeownership
45.5%
47.2%
+1.7 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
43.3%
47.8%
+4.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
33.5 min
23.1 min
+10.4 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
539.8
436
+19% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
3,489.9
2,315.7
+34% in Chicago, IL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.7°F
51.8°F
+0.9°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
38.0 in
39.3 in
+1.3 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.29/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Chicago, IL

Area: Chicago vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
21.6
+10% in Chicago, IL
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$19.17
+25% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Pittsburgh, PA
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Pittsburgh, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / PA)
6.25%
6%
+0.3 pp in IL
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
3.07%
+1.9 pp in IL

Chicago vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Chicago or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Chicago than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $50,000 a year in Chicago versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Chicago or Pittsburgh?
Chicago is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).