City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 271 in Denver, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 272, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,831 in Denver.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Denver and Pittsburgh. Denver averages 62°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 $1,831 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Denver 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
Denver and Pittsburgh are 1,317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,831 a month in Denver to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $570 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $94,718 in Denver to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $28,976 (31%).
The crime index goes from 271 in Denver to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 113 points (42%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Denver are 1,317 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,831 a month in Denver, up $570 a month (45%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $94,718 in Denver, up $28,976 (44%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 271 in Denver, up 113 points (72%).
Denver, 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 Denver and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
31% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 31% cheaper than Denver
Denver
$1,831/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,831 in Denver, so Pittsburgh is 31% cheaper. That's roughly $570/month back in your pocket ($6,840/year). Over five years that's $34,200 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 Denver, 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
44% higher
Denver's median income is 44% higher than Pittsburgh
Denver
Winner$94,718
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $94,718 in Denver versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 44% higher in Denver (about $28,976 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, Denver 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
42% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 42% lower than Denver
Denver
271 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 271 in Denver (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% 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. Denver can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
51% more comfortable
Denver weather is 51% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Denver
Winner62°F avg · 71°F highs · comfort 92/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Denver averages about 62°F (71°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Denver averages around 62°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Denver scores 51% 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 44% higher ($94,718), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°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 31% 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 42% lower than Denver (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 $1,831 in Denver. Median income reads $65,742 in Pittsburgh and $94,718 in Denver, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Denver's $1,831, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $94,718 in Denver versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Denver deserves a serious look only when your $94,718 income offer in Denver outweighs saving $570/month in Pittsburgh.
Common questions
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