Living Cost Compare
Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania

$1,300/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Pittsburgh, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,137 in Pittsburgh, PA and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 14% higher in Pittsburgh, PA. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Pittsburgh, PA
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$1,109
$1,103
+1% in Pittsburgh, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,079
$1,024
+5% in Pittsburgh, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,269
$1,213
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,450
$1,394
+4% in Pittsburgh, PA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$193,200
$224,500
+16% in Wilmington, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$64,137
$55,269
+14% in Pittsburgh, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,650
$54,310
+9% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
33.5 yr
37.0 yr
+3.5 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
47.2%
46.0%
+1.2 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.8%
33.1%
+14.7 pp in Pittsburgh, PA
Avg Commute
23.1 min
23.0 min
+0.1 min in Pittsburgh, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436
1,138.2
+161% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
2,315.7
3,182.4
+37% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+3.1°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
39.3 in
43.1 in
+3.8 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
19.4
+10% in Pittsburgh, PA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$22.51
+17% in Wilmington, DE

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
6%
None
+6.0 pp in PA
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
6.60%
+3.5 pp in DE

Pittsburgh vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Pittsburgh or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Pittsburgh, PA's $1,300, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Pittsburgh than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Pittsburgh versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Pittsburgh or Wilmington?
Pittsburgh is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).