City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 242 in Orlando, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 241, using 2022 FBI data for Orlando and 2024-2025 FBI data for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,747 in Orlando.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Orlando and Pittsburgh. Orlando averages 75°F while Pittsburgh averages 55°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,747 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Orlando 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
Orlando and Pittsburgh are 826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,747 a month in Orlando to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $486 a month (28%).
Median household income goes from $72,336 in Orlando to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $6,594 (9%).
The crime index goes from 242 in Orlando to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 84 points (35%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Orlando are 826 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,747 a month in Orlando, up $486 a month (39%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $72,336 in Orlando, up $6,594 (10%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 242 in Orlando, up 84 points (53%).
Orlando, FL
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 Orlando and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
28% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 28% cheaper than Orlando
Orlando
$1,747/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,747 in Orlando, so Pittsburgh is 28% cheaper. That's roughly $486/month back in your pocket ($5,832/year). Over five years that's $29,160 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 Orlando, 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
10% higher
Orlando's median income is 10% higher than Pittsburgh
Orlando
Winner$72,336
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $72,336 in Orlando versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Orlando (about $6,594 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
35% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 35% lower than Orlando
Orlando
242 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 242 in Orlando (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 35% 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. Orlando can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
39% more comfortable
Orlando weather is 39% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Orlando
Winner75°F avg · 82°F highs · comfort 100/100
Pittsburgh
55°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 72/100
Orlando averages about 75°F (82°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 55°F (63°F highs). Orlando sits near 75°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Pittsburgh averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Orlando scores 39% 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 10% higher ($72,336), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 75°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 28% 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 35% lower than Orlando (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
On rent alone, Pittsburgh undercuts Orlando by $486/month ($1,261 vs $1,747). I would not pick Orlando on housing cost without a job that clears that spread.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Pittsburgh vs 33/100 in Orlando), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 75°F in Orlando and 55°F in Pittsburgh.
Between Orlando and Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh is ahead on housing cost — $1,261/month rent against $1,747. Lean Orlando instead when your $72,336 income offer in Orlando outweighs saving $486/month in Pittsburgh.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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