City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Pittsburgh, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Philadelphia, PA are 8.3% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $108,300 in Philadelphia, PA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,077 in Pittsburgh, PA. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA and 17% in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Both are in PA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $3,070 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −6.2% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Pittsburgh, PA ($117,284 → $110,047), while prices change by −7.7%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.6% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (pricier)
- 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
| Philadelphia, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 94.7 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,313 in Pittsburgh | $108,327 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,077/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $49,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Pittsburgh, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 72.0 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 107.7 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 94.7 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Pittsburgh, PA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.3%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
95 Strong offer
Pittsburgh, PA → Philadelphia, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.7%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
45 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Pittsburgh, PA is in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Pittsburgh, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | Real change, Philadelphia → Pittsburgh |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $63,815 | +1.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $77,211 | +1.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $92,543 | +1.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $110,047 | +1.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $130,042 | +1.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Pittsburgh, PA | Pittsburgh pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $76,550 | $82,924 (+5.5%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $124,500 | $134,867 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $76,940 | $83,347 (−3.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $82,370 | $89,229 (−11.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.