City comparison
Yes. El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 88 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
El Paso is cheaper. Median rent is $1,073 a month versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between El Paso and Pittsburgh. El Paso averages 66°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 $1,073 versus $1,261.
El Paso is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Pittsburgh makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone El Paso is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. El Paso has rougher pockets and Pittsburgh has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
El Paso and Pittsburgh are 1,588 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,073 a month in El Paso to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, up $188 a month (18%).
Median household income goes from $59,745 in El Paso to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $5,997 (10%).
The crime index goes from 87 in El Paso to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 71 points (82%).
The move
Pittsburgh and El Paso are 1,588 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,073 a month in El Paso, down $188 a month (15%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $59,745 in El Paso, down $5,997 (9%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 87 in El Paso, down 71 points (45%).
El Paso, 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 El Paso and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
15% cheaper
El Paso rent is 15% cheaper than Pittsburgh
El Paso
Winner$1,073/mo
Pittsburgh
$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,073 a month in El Paso versus $1,261 in Pittsburgh, so El Paso is 15% 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 $2,256, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. El Paso 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 El Paso? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 10% higher than El Paso
El Paso
$59,745
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $59,745 in El Paso, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Pittsburgh (about $5,997 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
45% lower crime
El Paso's crime index is 45% lower than Pittsburgh
El Paso
Winner87 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
El Paso's crime index is 87 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 45% lower in El Paso. 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, El Paso is the easier city. Pittsburgh can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
64% more comfortable
El Paso weather is 64% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
El Paso
Winner66°F avg · 72°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
El Paso averages about 66°F (72°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). El Paso sits near 66°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. El Paso 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
El Paso is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 15% cheaper here at about $1,073 a month. Choose El Paso if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Pick El Paso if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (66°F) beat Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 64%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but El Paso is the city where the forecast fights you less.
El Paso is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 45% lower than Pittsburgh (87 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.
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 10% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Safety is the widest gap: El Paso scores 64/100 versus 46/100 in Pittsburgh. Rent is $1,073/month in El Paso and $1,261/month in Pittsburgh, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Safety still diverges (64/100 in El Paso vs 46/100 in Pittsburgh), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,073 in El Paso and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
El Paso is ahead on safety (64/100 vs 46/100); Pittsburgh is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,261/month rent plus $65,742 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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