City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 261 in Philadelphia, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 252, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,397 in Philadelphia.
Safety is where Philadelphia and Pittsburgh split most clearly. Pittsburgh scores 103 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,397 in Philadelphia and $1,261 in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety by margins that add up in daily life. Philadelphia makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Pittsburgh is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Pittsburgh has rougher pockets and Philadelphia has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are 257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,397 a month in Philadelphia to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $136 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $61,953 in Philadelphia to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, up $3,789 (6%).
The crime index goes from 261 in Philadelphia to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 103 points (39%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are 257 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,397 a month in Philadelphia, up $136 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $61,953 in Philadelphia, down $3,789 (6%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 261 in Philadelphia, up 103 points (65%).
Philadelphia, PA
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 Philadelphia and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 10% cheaper than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$1,397/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,397 in Philadelphia, so Pittsburgh is 10% 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 $1,632, 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 Philadelphia.
Planning to buy in Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
6% higher
Pittsburgh's median income is 6% higher than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
$61,953
Pittsburgh
Winner$65,742
Median household income is $65,742 in Pittsburgh versus $61,953 in Philadelphia, so typical pay runs 6% higher in Pittsburgh (about $3,789 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
39% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 39% lower than Philadelphia
Philadelphia
261 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 261 in Philadelphia (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 39% 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. Philadelphia can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
13% more comfortable
Philadelphia weather is 13% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Winner54°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 69/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Philadelphia averages about 54°F (61°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Philadelphia averages around 54°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. Philadelphia scores 13% 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
Pick Philadelphia if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (54°F) beat Pittsburgh on this page's weather index by 13%. Pittsburgh may pay more or cost less, but Philadelphia is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Pittsburgh is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 6% higher here ($65,742). Start with Pittsburgh if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Pittsburgh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 39% lower than Philadelphia (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 31/100 in Philadelphia, with typical rent at $1,261 versus $1,397. I would vet the exact ZIP in Philadelphia before trading 15 safety points for housing savings.
With only $136 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Weather averages land near 54°F in Philadelphia and 51°F in Pittsburgh.
If safety drives your move, Pittsburgh is the stronger match (46/100 safety versus 31/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Philadelphia, treat $1,397/month rent and $61,953 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
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