City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 162 in Austin, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 130, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,729 in Austin.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Austin and Pittsburgh. Austin averages 68°F while Pittsburgh averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,729 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Austin pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Pittsburgh at $1,261 average has pockets that run $1,061 and others at $1,661: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Austin and Pittsburgh are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,729 a month in Austin to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $468 a month (27%).
Median household income goes from $93,658 in Austin to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $27,916 (30%).
The crime index goes from 162 in Austin to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 4 points (2%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Austin are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,729 a month in Austin, up $468 a month (37%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $93,658 in Austin, up $27,916 (42%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 162 in Austin, up 4 points (3%).
Austin, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Pittsburgh, PA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Austin and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
27% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 27% cheaper than Austin
Austin
$1,729/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,729 in Austin, so Pittsburgh is 27% cheaper. That's roughly $468/month back in your pocket ($5,616/year). Over five years that's $28,080 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Austin, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Pittsburgh is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
42% higher
Austin's median income is 42% higher than Pittsburgh
Austin
Winner$93,658
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $93,658 in Austin versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 42% higher in Austin (about $27,916 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Austin is the stronger labor market on paper. Pittsburgh can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
2% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 2% lower than Austin
Austin
162 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 162 in Austin (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 2% lower in Pittsburgh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Pittsburgh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Austin. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
Austin weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Austin
Winner68°F avg · 76°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Austin averages about 68°F (76°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Austin sits near 68°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Austin scores 64% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Pittsburgh if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 42% higher ($93,658), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 68°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 27% cheaper here at about $1,261 a month. Choose Pittsburgh if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 2% lower than Austin (158 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Housing separates these metros first: $1,261/month in Pittsburgh versus $1,729 in Austin. Median income reads $65,742 in Pittsburgh and $93,658 in Austin, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Austin's $1,729, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Weather averages land near 68°F in Austin and 51°F in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Austin deserves a serious look only when your $93,658 income offer in Austin outweighs saving $468/month in Pittsburgh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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