Skip to main content
LiveWhere us
Pittsburgh, PA

Cost of living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Allegheny County, PA

Part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area

Estimated monthly cost
$3,152/mo
for a single person, all categories combined

Population 1,240,476 · Last updated May 21, 2026

Cost breakdown

Single person, by category, per month.

Rent $1,068 34%
Federal tax $629 20%
Healthcare $480 15%
Groceries $341 11%
Transport $250 8%
Energy $205 7%
State tax $124 4%
Water $55 2%

Rent in Pittsburgh

Fair Market Rents by bedroom count.

Studio
$998
per month
1 bedroom
$1,068
per month
2 bedroom
$1,280
per month
3 bedroom
$1,632
per month
4 bedroom
$1,759
per month

Source: HUD FMR FY2025

Income and earnings in Pittsburgh

Annual earnings figures from the Census ACS.

Household income
$76,393
per year
Individual earnings
$48,513
per year
Per capita
$48,208
per year

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year.

Home values in Pittsburgh

Average values reported by homeowners.

Average home value
$216,700
Annual property tax
$3,399

Source: ACS 2019-2023 5-Year

Energy costs in Pittsburgh

Estimated monthly electricity and gas costs.

Electricity
$143
per month · 17.9¢/kWh
Natural gas
$62
per month
Annual total
$2,460
per year

Source: EIA

Healthcare in Pittsburgh

Insurance premiums and coverage rates.

Individual premium
$480
per month
Family premium
$1,350
per month
Uninsured rate
3.9%

Source: ACS + national avg. Marketplace benchmark premiums are second-lowest Silver plan estimates and do not reflect employer plans, subsidies, or out-of-pocket costs. This is not healthcare advice.

Taxes in Pittsburgh

State and local tax rates for Pennsylvania.

State income tax
3.1%
Flat rate
State sales tax
6.0%
Combined sales tax
6.3%
incl. average local

Tax rates change. Consult a qualified tax professional for advice on your specific situation. This is not tax advice.

Transportation in Pittsburgh

Commute patterns and estimated costs.

Average commute
25.7 min
Drive alone
63.3%
Public transit
6.2%
Work from home
18.6%

Source: ACS

Monthly cost estimates for Pittsburgh

What it costs to live in Pittsburgh each month.

Single person
$3,152
per month
  • Rent $1,068
  • Energy $205
  • Water $55
  • Groceries $341
  • Transport $250
  • Healthcare $480
  • Federal tax $629
  • State tax $124
Couple
$4,485
per month
  • Rent $1,280
  • Energy $246
  • Water $65
  • Groceries $565
  • Transport $350
  • Healthcare $864
  • Federal tax $920
  • State tax $195
Family
$6,987
per month
  • Rent $1,632
  • Energy $308
  • Water $75
  • Groceries $857
  • Transport $450
  • Healthcare $1,350
  • Childcare $1,200
  • Federal tax $920
  • State tax $195

Frequently asked questions about Pittsburgh

Common questions about cost of living, rent and salary.

What is the average rent in Pittsburgh?

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a one-bedroom apartment averages $1,068 per month, a two-bedroom averages $1,280 per month, a three-bedroom averages $1,632 per month, according to HUD Fair Market Rent data.

What is the average salary in Pittsburgh?

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the average household income is $76,393 per year and individual earnings for full-time workers average $48,513 per year, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

What is the cost of living in Pittsburgh?

The estimated cost of living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is approximately $3,152 per month for a single person, $4,485 for a couple, $6,987 for a family. This includes rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and taxes.

What is the sales tax rate in Pittsburgh?

The combined sales tax rate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is 6.34%, which includes the Pennsylvania state rate of 6.00% plus an average local rate of 0.34%.

Is Pittsburgh an affordable place to live?

Based on the data, a single person in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania would need approximately $3,152 per month to cover rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and taxes. The average household income is $76,393 per year ($6,366 per month). Pittsburgh is relatively affordable compared to the national average.

How much does healthcare cost in Pittsburgh?

The ACA marketplace benchmark premium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is approximately $480 per month for an individual. Approximately 3.9% of residents are uninsured. Actual costs vary based on employer coverage, plan type, and individual circumstances.

What are house prices in Pittsburgh?

The average home value in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is $216,700, with average annual property taxes of $3,399, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

How does Pittsburgh compare to other areas?

You can compare Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with any other US county using our comparison tool at /compare. Pittsburgh is in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area.

Other counties in Pennsylvania

Browse the full list of counties in Pennsylvania, ranked by cost of living.

See all counties in Pennsylvania

Compare Pittsburgh with another area

Put two counties side by side to see how rent, taxes and everyday costs stack up.

About this data

All figures on this page come from official U.S. government sources, listed below.

  • HUD FMR FY2025
  • ACS 2019-2023 5-Year
  • EIA
  • ACS + national avg
  • ACS
  • USDA + BEA RPP
Methodology All data sources