Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Pittsburgh?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.

Which has lower taxes, Newark or Pittsburgh?

Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax); Pittsburgh under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax).

Newark vs Pittsburgh Cost of Living 2026

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $48,416 in Newark, NJ and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 25% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Newark, NJ

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio

$1,111

$1,109

+0% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,079

+10% in Pittsburgh, PA

2 Bedroom

$1,386

$1,269

+8% in Newark, NJ

3 Bedroom

$1,695

$1,450

+14% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$337,800

$193,200

+43% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$48,416

$64,137

+32% in Pittsburgh, PA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,430

$49,650

+19% in Newark, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.8 yr

33.5 yr

+1.3 yr in Newark, NJ

Homeownership

24.1%

47.2%

+23.1 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

17.4%

47.8%

+30.4 pp in Pittsburgh, PA

Avg Commute

33.2 min

23.1 min

+10.1 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

582.5

436

+25% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,961.8

2,315.7

+18% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.9°F

51.8°F

+3.1°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

39.3 in

+7.0 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

23.3

21.6

+7% in Newark, NJ

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.93

$19.17

+20% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NJ / PA)

6.625%

+0.6 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

10.75%

3.07%

+7.7 pp in NJ

Newark vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Newark or Pittsburgh?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Newark than in Pittsburgh?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Newark versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Newark or Pittsburgh?: Newark is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).