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Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh costs less to buy into: about $714 a month less on the typical home. Philadelphia has the milder winters.

By Sol Lakein. Updated November 2026.

Philadelphia$374,950 · $2,061/moPittsburgh$245,000 · $1,346/mo

Side by side

The better number in each row is green, with a check mark.

Money

  • Typical home for sale1
    Philadelphia
    $374,950
    Pittsburgh
    Lower$245,000
  • Monthly mortgage on it2
    Philadelphia
    $2,061
    Pittsburgh
    Lower$1,346
  • 2-bedroom rent3
    Philadelphia
    $1,723
    Pittsburgh
    Lower$1,185
  • Price per square foot1
    Philadelphia
    $228
    Pittsburgh
    Lower$170
  • Everyday prices4
    Philadelphia
    3% above avg
    Pittsburgh
    Lower5% below avg
  • Housing costs4
    Philadelphia
    13% above avg
    Pittsburgh
    Lower28% below avg
  • Salary that matches $150,000 in New York4
    Philadelphia
    $136,662
    Pittsburgh
    $126,157

Weather

  • January low5
    Philadelphia
    Milder26°F
    Pittsburgh
    21.4°F
  • July high5
    Philadelphia
    87.8°F
    Pittsburgh
    Cooler82.9°F
  • Snow per year5
    Philadelphia
    23.1 in
    Pittsburgh
    44.1 in

Trips home and more

  • Nonstop to New York6
    Philadelphia
    No
    Pittsburgh
    Yes, PIT
  • Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-257
    Philadelphia
    -9,736
    Pittsburgh
    No data
  • Average commute, one way8
    Philadelphia
    30 min
    Pittsburgh
    Shorter27 min
  • Pays you to move9
    Philadelphia
    No program
    Pittsburgh
    No program
See it as one table, with sources
MeasurePhiladelphiaPittsburghSource
Typical home for sale$374,950$245,000Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026
Monthly mortgage on it$2,061$1,346Principal and interest, 20% down, 7.32%
2-bedroom rent$1,723$1,185Census ACS 2025, incl. utilities
Price per square foot$228$170Realtor.com via FRED
Everyday prices3% above avg5% below avgBEA regional price parities, 2024
Housing costs13% above avg28% below avgBEA, 2024
Salary that matches $150,000 in New York$136,662$126,157BEA price parities, 2024
January low26°F21.4°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
July high87.8°F82.9°FNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Snow per year23.1 in44.1 inNOAA 1991-2020 normals
Nonstop to New YorkNoYes, PITAirport route pages, October 2026
Net move-ins from other US metros, 2024-25-9,736No dataUS Census Bureau, Vintage 2025
Average commute, one way30 min27 minCensus ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025
Pays you to moveNo programNo programOfficial program pages, October 2026

Which one fits you

Pick Philadelphia if you want

  • Milder winters
Cost of living in Philadelphia

Pick Pittsburgh if you want

  • Lower home prices
  • A smaller monthly payment
  • Lower rent
  • More space for the money
  • Lower everyday prices
  • Lower housing and rent costs
  • Cooler summers
  • Nonstop flights to New York
  • A shorter commute
Cost of living in Pittsburgh

Philadelphia vs Pittsburgh: questions people ask

Is Philadelphia or Pittsburgh cheaper?

Pittsburgh has the lower median listed home ($245,000 against $374,950, Realtor.com via FRED). On a mortgage for each median home that is about $714 a month less in principal and interest. Everyday prices: 102.6 in Philadelphia, 94.7 in Pittsburgh (BEA, 2024, US = 100).

Which has milder winters, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?

Philadelphia. January lows average 26°F in Philadelphia and 21.4°F in Pittsburgh (NOAA 1991-2020 normals).

What changes if I move from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh?

The monthly payment on the median listed home goes from $2,061 to $1,346, and a salary of $100,000 in Philadelphia buys what about $92,313 buys in Pittsburgh (Realtor.com via FRED; BEA regional price parities, 2024). Moving the other way, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, reverses both numbers.

Is it better to live in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh?

Philadelphia comes out ahead on milder winters. Pittsburgh comes out ahead on lower home prices, a smaller monthly payment, lower rent. The right one depends on which of those matters most to your household.

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Notes on the numbers
  1. 1Home prices: the typical home is the median listing price, with price per square foot, from Realtor.com via FRED, September 2026.
  2. 2Monthly mortgage: Principal and interest on the median listed home with 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32% (Freddie Mac 30-year fixed average, week of October 22, 2026). Excludes taxes, insurance and HOA. Rate source
  3. 3Rent: Census ACS 2025 1-year, median gross rent for 2-bedroom units (rent plus utilities). Census table
  4. 4Everyday prices, housing costs and the matching salary: BEA regional price parities, 2024, compared with the US average. Everyday price bars run from 75 to 135 and housing bars from 40 to 160, where the US average is 100.
  5. 5Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
  6. 6Flights: airport route pages, October 2026.
  7. 7Net move-ins: US Census Bureau, Vintage 2025.
  8. 8Commute: Census ACS 2025 1-year, table S0801, mean travel time to work (one way, workers who do not work from home), 2025. Census table
  9. 9Incentives: official program pages, October 2026.
Sources for this page