City comparison
Eugene, OR vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Eugene, OR are 7.3% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $107,300 in Eugene, OR to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,286 a month in Eugene, OR versus $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Eugene, OR and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $4,850 a year higher in Eugene, OR than in Pittsburgh, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +3.4% moving from Eugene, OR to Pittsburgh, PA ($106,437 → $110,047), while prices change by −6.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.9% in real buying power.
- Eugene, OR: price level 101.6 (about average)
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Eugene, OR | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.6 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $93,209 in Pittsburgh | $107,285 in Eugene |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,286/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $71,260 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $7,920 (OR) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,680 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR MSA and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Eugene-Springfield, OR and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Eugene | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 98.3 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 105.3 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 102.5 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 101.6 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Eugene, OR → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +7.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$4,850/yr.
92 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Eugene, OR
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$4,850/yr.
48 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Eugene, OR is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Eugene, OR to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Eugene, OR | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Eugene → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $63,815 | +10.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $77,211 | +10.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $92,543 | +10.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $110,047 | +10.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $130,042 | +10.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Eugene, OR | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Eugene dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $64,260 | $76,550 | $82,127 (+27.8%) |
| Software Developers | $121,050 | $124,500 | $133,570 (+10.3%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,930 | $76,940 | $82,545 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $113,720 | $82,370 | $88,371 (−22.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.