Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA — about 5% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Both cities are in Pennsylvania, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Pittsburgh, PA

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,109
+2% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,079
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,269
+9% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,450
+3% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$193,200
+17% in Philadelphia, PA

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$64,137
+6% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$49,650
+9% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
33.5 yr
+1.6 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
47.2%
+5.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
47.8%
+13.2 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
32.0 min
23.1 min
+8.9 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
436
+52% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
2,315.7
+50% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
51.8°F
+5.3°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
39.3 in
+9.2 in in Philadelphia, PA

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)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
21.6
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$19.17
about equal

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 (PA / PA)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
3.07%
about equal

Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Pittsburgh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $43,000 in Pittsburgh.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?
Neither — both are in Pennsylvania, so they share the same state tax rates: 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).