City comparison
No. Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 265 in Portland, and its violent crime index is 147 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,655 in Portland.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Portland and Pittsburgh. Portland averages 60°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 $1,655 versus $1,261.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Pittsburgh costs less and Portland 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
Portland and Pittsburgh are 2,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,655 a month in Portland to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $394 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $90,919 in Portland to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $25,177 (28%).
The crime index goes from 265 in Portland to 158 in Pittsburgh, down 107 points (40%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Portland are 2,160 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,655 a month in Portland, up $394 a month (31%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $90,919 in Portland, up $25,177 (38%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 265 in Portland, up 107 points (68%).
Portland, OR
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 Portland and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 24% cheaper than Portland
Portland
$1,655/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,655 in Portland, so Pittsburgh is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $394/month back in your pocket ($4,728/year). Over five years that's $23,640 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 Portland, 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
38% higher
Portland's median income is 38% higher than Pittsburgh
Portland
Winner$90,919
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $90,919 in Portland versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 38% higher in Portland (about $25,177 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, Portland 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
40% lower crime
Pittsburgh's crime index is 40% lower than Portland
Portland
265 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
Winner158 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh's crime index is 158 versus 265 in Portland (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 40% 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. Portland can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Portland weather is 41% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Portland
Winner60°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 86/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Portland averages about 60°F (68°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Portland averages around 60°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Portland scores 41% 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 38% higher ($90,919), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 60°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 24% 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 40% lower than Portland (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
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Pittsburgh leads on safety (46/100 vs 30/100 in Portland). Typical rent is $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,655 in Portland; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Pittsburgh rent at $1,261/month is still below Portland's $1,655, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,261 in Pittsburgh and $1,655 in Portland.
Pittsburgh is ahead on safety (46/100 vs 30/100); Portland is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,655/month rent plus $90,919 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
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