City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 341 in Cleveland, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 425, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Cleveland is cheaper. Median rent is $1,060 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Safety is where Cleveland and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Pittsburgh scores 183 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,060 in Cleveland and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
This is a genuine split. Cleveland wins on cost of living and Pittsburgh wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Cleveland at $1,060 average has pockets that run $860 and others at $1,460: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Cleveland and Pittsburgh are 115 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,060 a month in Cleveland to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $201 a month (19%).
Median household income goes from $64,468 in Cleveland to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $1,274 (2%).
The crime index goes from 341 in Cleveland to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 183 points (54%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Cleveland are 115 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,060 a month in Cleveland, down $201 a month (16%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $64,468 in Cleveland, down $1,274 (2%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 341 in Cleveland, up 183 points (116%).
Cleveland, OH
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 Cleveland and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
16% cheaper
Cleveland rent is 16% cheaper than Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Winner$1,060/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,060 a month in Cleveland versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so Cleveland is 16% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $2,412, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Cleveland still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Pittsburgh.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 2% higher than Cleveland
Cleveland
$64,468
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $64,468 in Cleveland, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Pittsburgh (about $1,274 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
54% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 54% lower than Cleveland
Cleveland
341 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 341 in Cleveland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 54% 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. Cleveland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
Neck and neck
Cleveland and Pittsburgh are about even on typical weather.
Cleveland
58°F avg · 64°F highs · comfort 80/100
Pittsburgh
58°F avg · 66°F highs · comfort 80/100
Cleveland averages about 58°F (64°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 58°F (66°F highs). Cleveland averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Pittsburgh averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Cleveland
Cleveland is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 16% cheaper here at about $1,060 a month. Choose Cleveland if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% 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 54% lower than Cleveland (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Pittsburgh leads on safety (46/100 vs 23/100 in Cleveland). Typical rent is $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,060 in Cleveland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Pittsburgh still pays more locally ($65,742 median income vs $64,468), which can offset the lease if your field pays Pittsburgh rates.
Median income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $64,468 in Cleveland.
Pittsburgh is ahead on safety (46/100 vs 23/100); Cleveland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,060/month rent plus $64,468 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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