What is the cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pittsburgh has an overall cost of living index of 98, which is 1.0x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Pittsburgh ranks as #131 most affordable out of the 253 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Pittsburgh ranks as the #122 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Pittsburgh, check out:
Pittsburgh Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pittsburgh. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pittsburgh is 97.
The Groceries index in Pittsburgh is 101.
The Health index in Pittsburgh is 84.
The Housing index in Pittsburgh is 105.
The Transportation index in Pittsburgh is 106.
The Utilities index in Pittsburgh is 99.
| Living Expense | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 98 | 97 | 100 |
| Services | 97 | 99 | 100 |
| Groceries | 101 | 100 | 100 |
| Health | 84 | 88 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 102 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | 99 | 101 | 100 |
Pittsburgh Cost Of Living Compared To Pennsylvania Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Pennsylvania
- Most Affordable Cities In Pennsylvania
- Average Rent In Pennsylvania
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Pittsburgh, PA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Pittsburgh is $237,533.
The Median Rent in Pittsburgh is $1,261.
The Median Income in Pittsburgh is $65,742.
The Home Value To Income in Pittsburgh is 3.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pittsburgh is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $237,533 | $282,735 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,261 | $1,209 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $65,742 | $77,971 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 3.6x | 3.6x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.19x | 0.21x |
Pittsburgh, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Pittsburgh Services costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.39 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $11.77 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $16.24 | $18 |
| Haircut | $23.73 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $40.4 | $45.56 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Groceries costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.7 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.41 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.52 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.47 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.83 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.58 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.72 | $3.7 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Health costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $109.26 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $100.92 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $110.5 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Transportation costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $64.05 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Utilities costs vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $270.68 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $196.77 | $192.25 |
Pittsburgh SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pittsburgh
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pittsburgh. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Allison Park, PA has a cost of living index of 108, 1.1x Pittsburgh.
Baldwin, PA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.0x Pittsburgh.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 133, 1.4x Pittsburgh.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park, PA | 22,045 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Baldwin, PA | 21,057 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,235 | 133 | 1.4x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,811 | 97 | 1.0x |
| Brentwood, PA | 9,866 | 88 | 0.9x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,139 | 102 | 1.0x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,399 | 100 | 1.0x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,209 | 94 | 1.0x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,063 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Forest Hills, PA | 6,286 | 95 | 1.0x |
