City comparison
Pittsburgh, PA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in York, PA are 1.4% higher than in Pittsburgh, PA. Someone earning $100,000 in Pittsburgh, PA would need about $101,400 in York, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,077 a month in Pittsburgh, PA and $1,060 in York, 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 +10.7% moving from Pittsburgh, PA to York, PA ($110,047 → $121,785), while prices change by +1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +9.1% in real buying power.
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Pittsburgh, PA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.7 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $101,404 in York | $98,616 in Pittsburgh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,077/mo | $1,060/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 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,650 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Pittsburgh, PA and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pittsburgh | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 94.7 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pittsburgh, PA → York, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
64 Fair offer
York, PA → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
73 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pittsburgh, PA is in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Pittsburgh, PA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pittsburgh, PA | York, PA | Real change, Pittsburgh → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,815 | $70,623 | +9.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,211 | $85,447 | +9.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,543 | $102,415 | +9.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,047 | $121,785 | +9.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,042 | $143,913 | +9.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pittsburgh, PA | York, PA | York pay in Pittsburgh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,550 | $79,730 | $78,626 (+2.7%) |
| Software Developers | $124,500 | $114,600 | $113,014 (−9.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,940 | $75,160 | $74,120 (−3.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,370 | $96,210 | $94,878 (+15.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.