Living Cost Compare
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Hartford, CT versus $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,300 in Hartford, CT and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 29% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Hartford, CT
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$973
$1,109
+14% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,042
$1,079
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,296
$1,269
+2% in Hartford, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,450
+1% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$217,200
$193,200
+11% in Hartford, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$45,300
$64,137
+42% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$59,940
$49,650
+17% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.4 yr
33.5 yr
+0.1 yr in Pittsburgh, PA
Homeownership
25.7%
47.2%
+21.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
18.3%
47.8%
+29.5 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
22.8 min
23.1 min
+0.3 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
527.5
436
+17% in Hartford, CT
Property Crime
2,949.2
2,315.7
+21% in Hartford, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.2°F
51.8°F
+0.6°F in Pittsburgh, PA
Annual Precipitation
43.6 in
39.3 in
+4.3 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
21.7
+11% in Hartford, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$26.08
+12% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / PA)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.07%
+3.9 pp in CT

Hartford vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Hartford or Pittsburgh?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,320, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Hartford than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Hartford versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Hartford or Pittsburgh?
Hartford is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).