Home › PA › Pittsburgh, PA Cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA Livability score 69 · cost-of-living index 94.7 (US = 100)
How Pittsburgh compares Where Pittsburgh falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 95 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 95 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $231k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $231k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $132 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $132 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 6.3% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 6.3% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.44% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.44% Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k, state avg): 390 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 390 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 21.5 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 21.5 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 85° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 85° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 22° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 22° Map of Pittsburgh Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value Scope US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 94.7 metro-area #90 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.3 metro-area #138 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.39 metro-area #89 of 200 Median household income $71,283 metro-area #98 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $44,740 metro-area #47 of 200
Who lives here Metric Value Scope US rank Median age 42.8 years metro-area #179 of 200 Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) 37.4% metro-area #61 of 200 Foreign-born residents 4.1% metro-area #177 of 200 Homes that are owner-occupied 70.5% metro-area #40 of 200
Economy Metric Value Scope US rank Unemployment rate 5.09% metro-area #97 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +0.7% metro-area #151 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value Scope US rank Median home price $231,356 metro-area #34 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 3.2× metro-area #6 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +0.8% metro-area #116 of 200 Price per square foot $132 metro-area #46 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,750 sqft Median rent (monthly) $1,527 metro-area #86 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 7,044 Median days on market 9 metro-area #43 of 200
Taxes Metric Value Scope US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 10.6% state #115 of 200 Combined sales tax 6.34% state #32 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 3.07% Capital gains tax 3.07% state #53 of 200 High earners No special surtax Social Security in retirement Not taxed — does not tax Social Security benefits Effective property tax rate 1.44% metro-area #142 of 200 Median property tax paid $2,780 metro-area #107 of 200
Health & childcare Metric Value Scope US rank Life expectancy at birth 76.4 years metro-area #104 of 200 Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,000 state #129 of 200 Uninsured (share of residents) 5.0% metro-area #16 of 200 Primary care providers per 100k 85 metro-area #54 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $12,000 state #110 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value Scope US rank Annual registration $65 state #29 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None state #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 6 Avg commute to work 27 min metro-area #148 of 200 Commute by driving alone 70.2% metro-area #41 of 200 Solo drivers commuting 30+ min 38.6% metro-area #157 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value Scope US rank Electricity 21.5¢/kWh state #147 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $193 state #141 of 200 Gasoline $3.55/gal state #150 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $82 state #167 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $65 state #14 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $78 state #77 of 200
Insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,200 state #8 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $1,600 state #51 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value Scope US rank Main natural hazards Lower natural-disaster risk; standard home coverage usually sufficient. FEMA National Risk Index (0–100, higher = more risk) 89.6 — Relatively Moderate metro-area #100 of 200 Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $650 state #41 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 state #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value Scope US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 53 metro-area #157 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 800 metro-area #49 of 200 Homes with air conditioning (state) 91% state #115 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 metro-area #141 of 200 Days per year ≥ 90°F 6 metro-area #25 of 200 Days per year ≥ 100°F 0 metro-area #5 of 200 Avg summer high (state) 85°F metro-area #59 of 200 Avg winter low 22°F metro-area #130 of 200 Annual precipitation 39.6" metro-area #80 of 200 Annual snowfall 44.1" metro-area #156 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 45% metro-area #196 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value Scope US rank Violent crime (per 100k, state avg) 390 state #91 of 200 Property crime (per 100k, state avg) 1,400 state #11 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value Scope US rank Grocery stores 71 metro-area #98 of 200 Parks 115 Hiking areas 29 Golf courses 34 Shooting ranges 8 Lakes 1
Permits Metric Value Scope US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 3 state #87 of 200 Permit detail Moderate
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
Top employers in Pittsburgh Major public and private employers in the Pittsburgh, PA area.
Salaries by occupation in Pittsburgh Local median pay, BLS OEWS. All occupations →
Occupation Median pay Dentists $157,820 Lawyers $138,100 Pharmacists $133,340 Financial Managers $133,060 Human Resources Managers $125,650 Marketing Managers $125,580 Construction Managers $109,470 Software Developers $107,110 Physician Assistants $104,030 General & Operations Managers $101,080 Mechanical Engineers $98,970 Civil Engineers $97,560 Physical Therapists $97,290 Web Developers $89,420 Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $82,850 Data Scientists $82,580 Registered Nurses $79,630 Dental Hygienists $75,040 Accountants & Auditors $74,830 Elementary School Teachers $65,770 Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters $65,580 Electricians $64,900 Carpenters $59,390 Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,920 Real Estate Sales Agents $50,790 Welders, Cutters & Solderers $49,790 Graphic Designers $49,480 Medical Assistants $38,240
Cities in the Pittsburgh area Pittsburgh (303,843) → Bethel Park (33,275) → Monroeville (28,517) → Plum (27,032) → Allison Park (22,701) → New Castle (21,863) → Baldwin (21,266) → Murrysville (20,820) → West Mifflin (19,506) → McKeesport (17,749) → Franklin Park (15,305) → Whitehall (14,909) → Greensburg (14,876) → Wilkinsburg (14,340) → Butler (13,387) → Washington (13,358) → Carnot-Moon (13,345) → Jefferson Hills (12,296) → New Kensington (12,163) → Lower Burrell (11,701) → Munhall (10,738) →
What your paycheck is really worth, city by city — cost of living, taxes,
housing and pay across 200 US metros and 3,220 towns.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts from Google Maps public listings.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.
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