Living Cost Compare
Denver

Colorado

$1,750/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 $1,750 in Denver, CO versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 30% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Denver, CO
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,497
$1,109
+26% in Denver, CO
1 Bedroom
$1,583
$1,079
+32% in Denver, CO
2 Bedroom
$1,958
$1,269
+35% in Denver, CO
3 Bedroom
$2,269
$1,450
+36% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$586,700
$193,200
+67% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income
$91,681
$64,137
+30% in Denver, CO
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$62,320
$49,650
+20% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
33.5 yr
+1.7 yr in Denver, CO
Homeownership
49.1%
47.2%
+1.9 pp in Denver, CO
Bachelor's+ (25+)
55.6%
47.8%
+7.8 pp in Denver, CO
Avg Commute
25.4 min
23.1 min
+2.3 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
999.3
436
+56% in Denver, CO
Property Crime
4,781.1
2,315.7
+52% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
50.2°F
51.8°F
+1.6°F in Pittsburgh, PA
Annual Precipitation
15.6 in
39.3 in
+23.7 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.27/gal
$3.86/gal
+10% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.75
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.2
21.6
+33% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$11.92
$19.17
+61% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Denver, CO
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Denver, CO
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Denver, CO
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 (CO / PA)
2.9%
6%
+3.1 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
4.40%
3.07%
+1.3 pp in CO

Denver vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Denver, CO's $1,750, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Pittsburgh?
Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).