Is Philadelphia cheaper than Pittsburgh?

No. Pittsburgh is cheaper: typical rent is $1,299 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 28% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $60,187 in Pittsburgh, so Pittsburgh has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?

Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 75 in Philadelphia and 75 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.

Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?

School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Pittsburgh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

New search

City comparison

Philadelphia, PA vs Pittsburgh, PA

Philadelphia, PA versus Pittsburgh, PA is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,810 a month in Philadelphia and $1,299 in Pittsburgh, and median household income lands at $57,537 versus $60,187. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Pittsburgh takes affordability, job market, and weather. The widest gap is rent, where Pittsburgh leads by 28% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Philadelphia can feel further apart than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Philadelphia report Full Pittsburgh report

Philadelphia, PA

Rent: $1,810/mo
Median income: $57,537
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 75°F

Pittsburgh, PA

Rent: $1,299/mo
Median income: $60,187
Crime index: 75
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Rent

28% cheaper

Pittsburgh rent is 28% cheaper than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$1,810/mo

Pittsburgh

Winner

$1,299/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,299 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,810 in Philadelphia, so Pittsburgh is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $511/month back in your pocket — $6,132/year. Over five years that's $30,660 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Philadelphia, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Pittsburgh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

5% higher

Pittsburgh's median income is 5% higher than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

$57,537

Pittsburgh

Winner

$60,187

What this means for your life

Median household income is $60,187 in Pittsburgh versus $57,537 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Pittsburgh — about $2,650 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are about even on crime index.

Philadelphia

75 (100 = avg)

Pittsburgh

75 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh post similar crime indexes (75 vs 75, where 100 is the national average). A small gap at the city level can still hide a huge neighborhood spread. Walk the specific block, check lighting and late-night activity, and use each city's full report for violent vs. property crime instead of stopping at the headline index.

School scores

Neck and neck

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are about even on school scores.

Philadelphia

A- · 84/100

Pittsburgh

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Philadelphia, A- in Pittsburgh). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

11% more comfortable

Pittsburgh weather is 11% more comfortable than Philadelphia

Philadelphia

75°F typical

Pittsburgh

Winner

69°F typical

What this means for your life

Pittsburgh scores 11% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 75°F in Philadelphia and 69°F in Pittsburgh. Philadelphia reads as warm weather most of the year; Pittsburgh reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Philadelphia's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Pittsburgh is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Philadelphia

People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Philadelphia

On these five categories Pittsburgh takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Philadelphia because the stats are kinder — they are not. Choose Philadelphia only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.

Open the Philadelphia report →

Fit check

Who should choose Pittsburgh

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 28% cheaper here at about $1,299 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 5% higher ($60,187), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Open the Pittsburgh report →

Bottom line

Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh, called

If cost of living is your priority, Pittsburgh is the clear choice.

If weather matters more to you, Pittsburgh pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Pittsburgh offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh FAQ

Is Philadelphia cheaper than Pittsburgh?: No. Pittsburgh is cheaper: typical rent is $1,299 a month versus $1,810 in Philadelphia — 28% lower. Median household income is $57,537 in Philadelphia compared with $60,187 in Pittsburgh, so Pittsburgh has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?: Neither city has a meaningful citywide edge. Crime indexes are 75 in Philadelphia and 75 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average). Compare neighborhoods, not slogans.
Which city has better schools, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?: School composites are close: A- in Philadelphia and A- in Pittsburgh. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

Ready to move to Pittsburgh?

Find apartments →Get a mortgage rate →

Next steps