Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,320/mo est.

vs
West Valley City

Utah

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Pittsburgh, PA versus $1,330 in West Valley City, UT. Overall, Pittsburgh, PA is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than West Valley City, UT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $88,604 in West Valley City, UT — about 28% higher in West Valley City, UT. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
West Valley City, UT

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$1,085
+2% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,191
+10% in West Valley City, UT
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$1,333
+5% in West Valley City, UT
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$1,723
+19% in West Valley City, UT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$377,300
+95% in West Valley City, UT

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$88,604
+38% in West Valley City, UT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$55,240
+11% in West Valley City, UT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
30.3 yr
+3.2 yr in Pittsburgh, PA
Homeownership
47.2%
71.1%
+23.9 pp in West Valley City, UT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
15.7%
+32.1 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
23.1 min
22.2 min
+0.9 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
471.8
+8% in West Valley City, UT
Property Crime
2,315.7
1,855.5
+20% 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
51.8°F
52.8°F
+1.0°F in West Valley City, UT
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
16.1 in
+23.2 in in Pittsburgh, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.27/gal
+8% in West Valley City, UT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.7
13.4
+38% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$26.08
$11.84
+55% in Pittsburgh, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in West Valley City, UT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in West Valley City, UT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in West Valley City, UT
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 / UT)
6%
6.1%
+0.1 pp in UT
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
4.50%
+1.4 pp in UT

Pittsburgh vs West Valley City — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or West Valley City?
Pittsburgh, PA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below West Valley City, UT's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in West Valley City?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $48,000 in West Valley City.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or West Valley City?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); West Valley City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).