City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Nashville and Pittsburgh. Nashville averages 64°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 $1,586 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Nashville 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
Nashville and Pittsburgh are 472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $325 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $11,629 (15%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 124 points (44%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Nashville are 472 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $325 a month (26%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $77,371 in Nashville, up $11,629 (18%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 282 in Nashville, up 124 points (78%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 20% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Pittsburgh is 20% 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 $3,900, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Pittsburgh still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Nashville.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
18% higher
Nashville's median income is 18% higher than Pittsburgh
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 18% higher in Nashville (about $11,629 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, Nashville 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
44% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 44% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 44% 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. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
59% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 59% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Nashville scores 59% 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 18% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°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 20% 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 44% lower than Nashville (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
Crime and safety tilt toward Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh scores 46/100 versus 28/100 in Nashville, with typical rent at $1,261 versus $1,586. I would vet the exact ZIP in Nashville before trading 18 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 28/100 in Nashville), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,586 in Nashville.
If safety drives your move, Pittsburgh is the stronger match (46/100 safety versus 28/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Nashville, treat $1,586/month rent and $77,371 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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