City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 200 in Colorado Springs, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 204, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs.
The income gap between Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh is significant: $84,818 median household versus $65,742. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,648 in Colorado Springs and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Colorado Springs 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
Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh are 1,321 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $387 a month (23%).
Median household income goes from $84,818 in Colorado Springs to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $19,076 (22%).
The crime index goes from 200 in Colorado Springs to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 42 points (21%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Colorado Springs are 1,321 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,648 a month in Colorado Springs, up $387 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $84,818 in Colorado Springs, up $19,076 (29%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 200 in Colorado Springs, up 42 points (27%).
Colorado Springs, CO
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 Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
23% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 23% cheaper than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
$1,648/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,648 in Colorado Springs, so Pittsburgh is 23% cheaper. That's roughly $387/month back in your pocket ($4,644/year). Over five years that's $23,220 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 Colorado Springs, 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
29% higher
Colorado Springs's median income is 29% higher than Pittsburgh
Colorado Springs
Winner$84,818
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $84,818 in Colorado Springs versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Colorado Springs (about $19,076 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, Colorado Springs 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
21% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 21% lower than Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs
200 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 200 in Colorado Springs (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% 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. Colorado Springs can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
18% more comfortable
Colorado Springs weather is 18% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Colorado Springs
Winner55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Colorado Springs averages about 55°F (63°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Colorado Springs 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. Colorado Springs 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
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 29% higher ($84,818), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 55°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 23% 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 21% lower than Colorado Springs (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 $1,648 in Colorado Springs. Median income reads $65,742 in Pittsburgh and $84,818 in Colorado Springs, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Colorado Springs's $1,648, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 39/100 in Colorado Springs and 46/100 in Pittsburgh.
If housing cost drives your move, Pittsburgh is the stronger match ($1,261/month rent against $1,648). If an employer or family tie already points to Colorado Springs, treat $1,648/month rent and $84,818 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Colorado Springs and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in CO and PA.
