Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,300 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 47% higher in Seattle, WA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$1,638
+48% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,858
+72% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$2,359
+86% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$2,918
+101% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$912,100
+372% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$121,984
+90% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$72,610
+46% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
35.5 yr
+2.0 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
47.2%
44.2%
+3.0 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
67.5%
+19.7 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
23.1 min
26.6 min
+3.5 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
788.6
+81% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
2,315.7
5,108.8
+121% in Seattle, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.8°F
53.5°F
+1.7°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
37.7 in
+1.6 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.31/gal
+38% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
14.9
+31% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$20.41
+6% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / WA)
6%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in WA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
None
+3.1 pp in PA

Pittsburgh vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or Seattle?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or Seattle?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).