Pittsburgh, PA Cost Of Living
Cost Of Living In Pittsburgh, PA Summary
Cost of living in Pittsburgh research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Pittsburgh is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.
On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:
The cost of living index in Pittsburgh is 94, with 100 being the average.
The cost of living index in Pittsburgh is 0.9x lower than the national average.
Pittsburgh ranks as the #86 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.
Pittsburgh ranks as the #2,290 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.
The median home value in Pittsburgh is $147,600.
The median income in Pittsburgh is $54,306.
Table Of Contents
Pittsburgh's Overall Cost Of Living
Lower Than The National Average
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 94, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.
Compared to Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh has a cost of living index that's 1.0x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.
The standard of living in Pittsburgh ranks as #86 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Pittsburgh ranks as the #161 most expensive place in the Keystone State.
For more reading on life in Pittsburgh, check out:
- Living In Pittsburgh
- Search Homes For Sale In Pittsburgh, PA
In Pennsylvania
In America
Pittsburgh Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pittsburgh. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pittsburgh is 99.
The Groceries index in Pittsburgh is 107.
The Health index in Pittsburgh is 98.
The Housing index in Pittsburgh is 65.
The Transportation index in Pittsburgh is 119.
The Utilities index in Pittsburgh is 119.
| Living Expense | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | National Average | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 94 | 97 | 100 | |
| Services | 99 | 99 | 100 | |
| Groceries | 107 | 101 | 100 | |
| Health | 98 | 97 | 100 | |
| Housing | 65 | 85 | 100 | |
| Transportation | 119 | 105 | 100 | |
| Utilities | 119 | 106 | 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 2017-2021. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Pittsburgh is $147,600.
The Median Rent in Pittsburgh is $1,043.
The Median Income in Pittsburgh is $54,306.
The Home Value To Income in Pittsburgh is 2.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pittsburgh is 0.23x.
| Statistic | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $147,600 | $197,300 | $244,900 |
| Median Rent | $1,043 | $1,013 | $1,163 |
| Median Income | $54,306 | $67,587 | $69,021 |
| Home Value To Income | 2.7x | 2.9x | 3.5x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.23x | 0.18x | 0.2x |
Median Home Value
Median Rent
Median Income
Pittsburgh, PA Costs By Category
Detailed Pittsburgh Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.16 | $1.06 |
| Movie | $11.48 | $10.68 |
| Bowling | $14.04 | $14.67 |
| Haircut | $19.1 | $18.62 |
| Beauty Salon | $34.18 | $39.05 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $4.48 | $4.22 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.61 | $1.39 |
| Milk | $2.03 | $2.05 |
| Potatoes | $4.39 | $3.29 |
| Pizza | $10.96 | $10.62 |
| Beer | $9.92 | $9.38 |
| Toothpaste | $2.19 | $2.34 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $90.39 | $108.57 |
| Doctor | $93.55 | $116.17 |
| Dentist | $102.37 | $99.13 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $2.55 | $2.22 |
| Tire Balancing | $61.08 | $50.07 |
Detailed Pittsburgh Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania
| Item | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $210.66 | $167.67 |
| Phone | $190.57 | $175.64 |
Pittsburgh SnackAbility
/10
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 95, 1.0x Pittsburgh.
Franklin Park, PA has a cost of living index of 119, 1.3x Pittsburgh.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allison Park, PA | 23,160 | 108 | 1.1x |
| Baldwin, PA | 21,274 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Franklin Park, PA | 15,239 | 119 | 1.3x |
| Whitehall, PA | 14,882 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Brentwood, PA | 9,999 | 89 | 0.9x |
| Glenshaw, PA | 9,058 | 101 | 1.1x |
| Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,454 | 100 | 1.1x |
| Castle Shannon, PA | 8,307 | 95 | 1.0x |
| Dormont, PA | 8,255 | 96 | 1.0x |
| Forest Hills, PA | 6,408 | 96 | 1.0x |
