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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Dollar for dollar, few states match Pennsylvania's value. 3 out of 3 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Pittsburgh at index 95, where median rent of $1,516/month saves renters $4,548/year versus the national median.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | $1,516 | 95 | Details |
| 2 | Allentown | $1,699 | 101 | Details |
| 3 | Philadelphia | $1,734 | 98 | Details |
#1 Ranked: Pittsburgh — cost index 95, rent $1,516/mo, income $64,137
Pittsburgh rent up 3% over the past year
3 of 3 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 112
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Dollar for dollar, few states match Pennsylvania's value. 3 out of 3 cities undercut the national cost index of 112. Leading the pack: Pittsburgh at index 95, where median rent of $1,516/month saves renters $4,548/year versus the national median.
Rent data is sourced from Zillow's Observed Rent Index (ZORI), which tracks the median rent across all active listings — not just new leases. And with some exceptions, this gives a more representative and stable signal than asking prices alone. Pittsburgh: $1,516/mo, Allentown: $1,699/mo, Philadelphia: $1,734/mo. The cheapest city here is $379 under the national median — that's $4,548/year in savings on rent alone.
Why Pittsburgh ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 95 on the cost index, residents save roughly 17% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,516/month while the median household pulls in $64,137/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 87, though Healthcare (98) lags behind. Home prices average $230,723 — $236,647 below the national median.
Pittsburgh rent up 3% over the past year. Rent in #1-ranked Pittsburgh has increased from $1,467 to $1,516/mo over the past 12 months — a 3% increase. Rising costs may erode its top ranking over time.
Bottom line: Pittsburgh leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
303,255 residents · Pennsylvania
The #1 spot goes to Pittsburgh, and the breakdown explains why. Renters here pay $1,516/month — saving renters $4,548 per year compared to the national average. Meanwhile, Utilities is the standout at index 87, making it one of the cheapest in the country for that category. The weak spot? Healthcare at 98. A 28% rent-to-income ratio keeps most households inside the safe zone.
124,880 residents · Pennsylvania
Put it this way: Allentown comes in at #2. Rent is $1,699 — though some people might weigh that differently — a month. Household income is $53,403. The cost of living index is 101. You get the picture (more on that below).
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Why Philadelphia ranks #3: the numbers tell a clear story. And with some exceptions, at 98 on the cost index, residents save roughly 14% less than the typical American. Rent sits at $1,734/month while the median household pulls in $60,698/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 90, though Healthcare (101) lags behind. Home prices average $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median.
Pittsburgh ranks #1 in Pennsylvania for this analysis with a cost index of 95 and median income of $64,137.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
Pittsburgh (ranked #1) has a cost index of 95 and rent of $1,516/mo, while Philadelphia (ranked #3) has a cost index of 98 and rent of $1,734/mo — a 3-point difference in cost of living.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Pittsburgh is $1,516/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $379 below the national median of $1,895/month.
The median home price in Pittsburgh is $230,723, which is 3.6× the local median income. It's on the edge of affordability for median-income households. The national median home price is $467,370.
Pennsylvania has a 3.07% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 6.34%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.36%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.