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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Pennsylvania is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Pittsburgh leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,516/month — 20% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
| Rank | City | Median Income | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | $64,137 | 95 | $1,516 | Details |
| 2 | Philadelphia | $60,698 | 98 | $1,734 | Details |
| 3 | Allentown | $53,403 | 101 | $1,699 | 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
Pennsylvania is a genuine bargain: 3 of the 3 cities in this ranking come in below the national cost-of-living average. Pittsburgh leads at an index of 95 with rent at just $1,516/month — 20% less than the $1,895 national median. Here are the numbers, sourced from federal data updated in 2026.
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 (and that gap widens if you factor in state taxes).
The numbers for Pittsburgh are straightforward: 95 on the cost index, $1,516/month rent, $64,137 income. Not the most exciting entry in the list, but solid. You get the picture.
The ranking uses a composite of 2026 data from Census Bureau population/income surveys, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary benchmarks, and Tax Foundation tax rates. And from what we can tell, pittsburgh (index 95, rent $1,516); Philadelphia (index 98, rent $1,734); Allentown (index 101, rent $1,699). Each city profile below links to the full detail page with 12-month trends, salary breakdowns, and cost category comparisons.
That's the upside. Here's the tension: Here's the state-level backdrop: Pennsylvania averages a 98 cost index, $1,650/mo rent, and $59,413 income across 3 cities. That's $245 less than the national rent average. Philadelphia's corridor versus Appalachian values — and that context shapes every city in this ranking.
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.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Pittsburgh | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $48,098 |
2Philadelphia | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $48,098 |
3Allentown | 3.07% | 6.34% | 1.36% | $48,098 |
303,255 residents · Pennsylvania
Dive into Pittsburgh's numbers: cost index 95 (17 points below national average), rent $1,516/month, income $64,137, and a home price of $230,723. The city's cost profile isn't flat — Utilities is the cheapest category at 87, while Healthcare runs 98. With 303,255 residents, it balances mid-size city convenience with manageable costs.
1,550,542 residents · Pennsylvania
Philadelphia earns its position at #2 through a combination that's hard to replicate. And in practical terms, the 98 cost index sits 14 points below the national baseline, and the $60,698 median income means purchasing power here is amplified by the low cost base. Homes list at $229,411 — $237,959 below the national median — a genuine ownership opportunity. On the cost side, Utilities leads the way at 90, while Healthcare trails at 101.
124,880 residents · Pennsylvania
Here's Allentown by the numbers — and there's a lot to like (and a little to watch). Cost index: 101. Rent: $1,699/month. Income: $53,403/year. Home price: $304,235. Population: 124,880. The strongest category is Utilities at 93; the most expensive is Healthcare at 104. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are saving renters $2,352 per year vs. the national median. This is an advantage that compounds over time.
Cities are ranked by median household income from Census ACS data. We also show cost-adjusted purchasing power (income ÷ cost index) to reveal which high-income cities actually deliver the most real-world spending power. All data is sourced from federal agencies and verified research institutions. Cost of living indices are normalized to 100 (national median) using Zillow rent as the primary signal, with sub-category adjustments derived from regional BLS price data. Rankings are updated monthly as new data is released.
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 Allentown (ranked #3) has a cost index of 101 and rent of $1,699/mo — a 6-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.