Pittsburgh and Philadelphia share a state, but they don’t share a price tag. That’s why a cost-of-living comparison is the first thing worth checking before you pick between them. One city is known for lower rents and a slower pace; the other for a bigger job market and easy East Coast access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But for renters deciding between these two Pennsylvania<\/a> cities, the monthly math matters just as much as the apartment<\/a>‘s floor plan or the character of each neighborhood. Rent, utilities, groceries and gas can shift your budget by hundreds of dollars a month.<\/p>\n\n\n Key takeaways for renters:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\t\t So, which one fits your budget? Here’s a renter-friendly breakdown of how the cost of living in Pittsburgh<\/a> and compares with the cost of living in Philadelphia<\/a>, from your rent check to your weekly grocery run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pittsburgh’s overall cost of living is about 2% above the national average and around 4% below the Pennsylvania state average. Meanwhile, the overall cost of living in Philadelphia runs about 7% above the national average and roughly 5% above the state average.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Put simply, this cost-of-living comparison shows Pittsburgh as the cheaper choice overall, though the gap is smaller than you might expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Averages only tell part of the story. Let’s break the cost-of-living comparison by the expenses renters care about most.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOverall cost of living: Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia: Category-by-category cost of living comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n