Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Washington

District of Columbia

$2,150/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 $2,150 in Washington, DC. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 40% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Washington, DC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $106,287 in Washington, DC — about 40% higher in Washington, DC. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; District of Columbia has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6% state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
Washington, DC

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$1,763
+59% in Washington, DC
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,885
+75% in Washington, DC
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$1,949
+54% in Washington, DC
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$2,249
+55% in Washington, DC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$724,600
+275% in Washington, DC

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$106,287
+66% in Washington, DC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$71,060
+43% in Washington, DC

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
34.9 yr
+1.4 yr in Washington, DC
Homeownership
47.2%
41.1%
+6.1 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
63.6%
+15.8 pp in Washington, DC
Avg Commute
23.1 min
30.3 min
+7.2 min in Washington, DC

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
936.3
+115% in Washington, DC
Property Crime
2,315.7
3,627.9
+57% in Washington, DC

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
58.2°F
+6.4°F in Washington, DC
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
39.7 in
+0.5 in in Washington, DC

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)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
25.4
+18% in Washington, DC
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.01
+15% in Washington, DC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Pittsburgh, PA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Washington, DC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Pittsburgh, PA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Pittsburgh, PA
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / DC)
6%
6%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
10.75%
+7.7 pp in DC

Pittsburgh vs Washington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or Washington?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 40% below Washington, DC's $2,150, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in Washington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $75,000 in Washington.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or Washington?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Washington under District of Columbia's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% 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).