Cost of Living in Pittsburgh, PA
| Cost of Living in Pittsburgh, PA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 7% higher | 7% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 19% higher | 28% higher |
| Food | 4% higher | 6% higher |
| Healthcare | 3% lower | 6% lower |
| Transportation | 2% lower | 5% higher |
| Goods & Services | 5% lower | 6% lower |
The cost of living in Pittsburgh, PA is 2% higher than the state average and 0% than the national average. Pittsburgh, PA housing is 7% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 28% pricier. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 6% less in Pittsburgh, PA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 6% less .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 6% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 6% cheaper in Pittsburgh, PA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Pittsburgh is $1,531, while home prices circle around $424,734.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Pittsburgh, energy bills cost around $265.35 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $3.00 in Pittsburgh, a dozen eggs go for around $2.63 and a pound of potatoes circles around $4.57.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Pittsburgh, an optometry check-up costs around $99.77, while a dentist appointment is priced $112.75 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.93 in Pittsburgh, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $60.68.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $21.59 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $22.57.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Pittsburgh, you should budget around $11.57 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $23.13, while dry cleaning costs about $14.50.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Pittsburgh, the median household income is $54,306.