City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 338 in Baltimore, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 428, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,331 in Baltimore.
Safety is where Baltimore and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Pittsburgh scores 180 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,331 in Baltimore and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Baltimore makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Pittsburgh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Pittsburgh has rougher pockets and Baltimore has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Baltimore and Pittsburgh are 196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,331 a month in Baltimore to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $70 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $62,177 in Baltimore to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $3,565 (6%).
The crime index goes from 338 in Baltimore to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 180 points (53%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Baltimore are 196 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,331 a month in Baltimore, up $70 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $62,177 in Baltimore, down $3,565 (5%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 338 in Baltimore, up 180 points (114%).
Baltimore, MD
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 Baltimore and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 5% cheaper than Baltimore
Baltimore
$1,331/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,331 in Baltimore, so Pittsburgh is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $70, or $840 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 6% higher than Baltimore
Baltimore
$62,177
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $62,177 in Baltimore, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Pittsburgh (about $3,565 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
53% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 53% lower than Baltimore
Baltimore
338 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 338 in Baltimore (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 53% lower in Pittsburgh. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Pittsburgh is the easier city. Baltimore can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Baltimore weather is 18% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Winner55°F avg · 62°F highs · comfort 72/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Baltimore averages about 55°F (62°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Baltimore averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Baltimore scores 18% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Baltimore if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (55°F) beat Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 18%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but Baltimore is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 53% lower than Baltimore (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
Baltimore carries the heavier crime signal on this page (23/100 safety vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh). That 23-point spread matters more than the $70 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 23/100 in Baltimore), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $62,177 in Baltimore.
Pittsburgh clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Baltimore deserves a serious look only when you already know the Baltimore block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
Ready to move to Pittsburgh?
Next steps
Quotes and listings for Pittsburgh when you're ready to act.
Keep researching
Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Baltimore and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in MD and PA.
