Cost of Living in Pittsburgh, PA

The cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA is 1.6% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Pittsburgh is 4.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,140 – $1,883. You can expect to pay 1.6% less for groceries, 23.0% more for utilities, and 6.7% more for transportation.

-1.6%

Overall Cost of Living vs. National Average

-4.8%

Housing Cost vs. National Average

$1,140 - $1,883

Most Common Rent Range

Cost of Living Summary in Pittsburgh, PA by Household Type

The cost of living in Pittsburgh for a renter is 0.3% lower than the national average. If you are a renter, you can expect to pay around $4,499/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $624 per month -1.6% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,903 per month -1.8% lower than US avg.
Utilities $452 per month +21.8% higher than US avg.
Transportation $469 per month +6.8% higher than US avg.
Healthcare $134 per month -5.0% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $917 per month -7.5% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Pittsburgh for a home owner is 1.2% lower than the national average. If you are a home owner, you can expect to pay around $7,874/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,242 per month -1.5% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,013 per month -6.2% lower than US avg.
Utilities $1,008 per month +23.4% higher than US avg.
Transportation $1,017 per month +6.8% higher than US avg.
Healthcare $366 per month -5.4% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,228 per month -7.3% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Pittsburgh for a married couple with children under 6 is 0.4% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children under 6, you can expect to pay around $7,162/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,206 per month -1.6% lower than US avg.
Housing $1,832 per month -4.4% lower than US avg.
Utilities $964 per month +23.0% higher than US avg.
Transportation $966 per month +6.9% higher than US avg.
Healthcare $300 per month -5.1% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $1,894 per month -7.3% lower than US avg.

The cost of living in Pittsburgh for a married couple with children 6-17 is 0.9% lower than the national average. If you are a married couple with children 6-17, you can expect to pay around $8,380/month to cover basic household expenses. The following categories represent a breakdown of average monthly spending. Costs may vary based on location or market conditions.

Groceries $1,422 per month -1.3% lower than US avg.
Housing $2,116 per month -4.7% lower than US avg.
Utilities $1,045 per month +22.2% higher than US avg.
Transportation $1,089 per month +7.1% higher than US avg.
Healthcare $419 per month -5.0% lower than US avg.
Goods & Services $2,289 per month -7.9% lower than US avg.

Average Housing Cost in Pittsburgh, PA vs. National Average

Cost of Renting

The average rent in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,316, which is 15.3% lower than the national average.

Start your search for an apartment in Pittsburgh, PA, and view the average rent.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Apartment
$1,316/month
$1,553/month
-15%

Cost of Buying a Home

The average listing price for a home in Pittsburgh, PA is $478,218, which is 4.0% lower than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Average House Cost
$478,218
$498,033
-4%

Cost of Living Details for Pittsburgh, PA

Is Pittsburgh expensive to live in?

Pittsburgh’s overall cost of living is 1.6% lower than the national average, making it a less expensive city compared to other US locations.

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Pittsburgh, PA?

To live comfortably in Pittsburgh, PA, as a single adult with no dependents, you should aim for a salary around $53,988 before taxes. Expect to pay around $22,836/year for housing, $7,488/year for groceries, and $11,004 for goods and services. These costs will vary based on family size and location.

Groceries

The average cost of groceries in Pittsburgh, PA is 1.6% lower than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Steak
$14.77
$14.82
0%
Ground Beef
$6.31
$6.44
-2%
Sausage
$5.17
$4.94
+5%
Frying Chicken
$1.39
$1.56
-11%

Utilities

The average cost of utilities in Pittsburgh, PA is 23.0% higher than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Energy
$271.82
$200.07
+36%
Phone
$198.19
$193.54
+2%

Healthcare

The average cost of healthcare in Pittsburgh, PA is 6.8% lower than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Optometrist Visit
$107.40
$128.65
-17%
Doctor Visit
$97.84
$140.46
-30%
Dentist Visit
$121.35
$115.50
+5%
Ibuprofen
$10.79
$10.83
0%

Transportation

The average cost of transportation in Pittsburgh, PA is 6.7% higher than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Gasoline (1 gallon)
$3.68
$3.39
+9%
Tire Balance
$62.29
$60.97
+2%

Goods & Services

The average cost of good and services in Pittsburgh, PA is 7.2% lower than the national average.

Pittsburgh, PA
National Average
Toothpaste
$3.99
$4.04
-1%
Shampoo
$1.55
$1.43
+8%
Dry Cleaning
$16.65
$16.69
0%
Man Dress Shirt
$27.06
$37.60
-28%

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Houses for Rent in Pittsburgh, PA

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What is a cost of living index?

A cost of living index is a numerical tool designed to compare expenses in different locations. It tracks the prices of essential goods and services, such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, and healthcare and assigns a score to each region. This index helps renters understand how costly one city is compared to another, helping with financial planning and decision-making before moving to a new place.

How is cost of living calculated?

Cost of living is calculated by looking at the prices of a variety of recurring expenses that people typically need. This can include housing, food, healthcare, and other everyday expenses. Each of these categories is weighted based on its importance in a typical budget. The prices are then compared across different locations to determine how much more or less expensive it is to live in one place compared to another.

Housing

Housing refers to the money you spend on where you live. This includes paying rent if you live in an apartment or making mortgage payments if you own a home.

Food and Groceries

Food and groceries cover the cost of buying food and everyday items like fruits, vegetables, snacks, and drinks. It's all the food you eat at home and the basic supplies you need to keep your house running smoothly.

Utilities

Utilities are the basic services that keep your home comfortable and functional. This includes bills for electricity, water, and internet and phone services.

Healthcare

Healthcare includes the expenses for medical needs. This means the cost of seeing doctors and dentists, buying medicine, and paying for related healthcare services.

Transportation

Transportation costs cover the expenses involved in commuting and travel, including costs associated with personal vehicle upkeep.

Goods & Services

Goods and services cover other everyday expenses that you have. This includes buying clothes, paying for entertainment like movies or sports, and other services you might use, such as haircuts or gym memberships. These are the things you spend money on outside of basic necessities.

How to interpret your results

Knowing whether you’ll save or spend more on expenses in a new city can help you with budgeting. There are a few practical applications of this knowledge. If you're thinking of moving to a more expensive area, you may need to adjust your spending. A region with particularly high rent may encourage you to allocate more of your budget toward housing and less toward entertainment and restaurants, for example. A region with a lower cost of living overall means you may be able to increase your spending in certain areas.

Calculating your estimated cost of living in a new city helps you plan your budget accordingly. Play around with numbers to find a balance between essential spending and disposable income.

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Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2024.