City comparison
Yes. Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 158 in Pittsburgh, and its violent crime index is 128 versus 147, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Pittsburgh is cheaper. Median rent is $1,261 a month versus $1,572 in Raleigh.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Raleigh and Pittsburgh. Raleigh 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 $1,572 versus $1,261.
Raleigh is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, 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 Raleigh is the stronger move.
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
Raleigh and Pittsburgh are 331 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,572 a month in Raleigh to $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh, down $311 a month (20%).
Median household income goes from $85,395 in Raleigh to $65,742 in Pittsburgh, down $19,653 (23%).
The crime index goes from 142 in Raleigh to 158 in Pittsburgh, up 16 points (11%).
The move
Pittsburgh and Raleigh are 331 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh to $1,572 a month in Raleigh, up $311 a month (25%).
Median household income goes from $65,742 in Pittsburgh to $85,395 in Raleigh, up $19,653 (30%).
The crime index goes from 158 in Pittsburgh to 142 in Raleigh, down 16 points (10%).
Raleigh, NC
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 Raleigh and Pittsburgh? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
20% cheaper
Pittsburgh rent is 20% cheaper than Raleigh
Raleigh
$1,572/mo
Pittsburgh
Winner$1,261/mo
Typical rent runs $1,261 a month in Pittsburgh versus $1,572 in Raleigh, 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 $3,732, 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 Raleigh.
Planning to buy in Raleigh? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
30% higher
Raleigh's median income is 30% higher than Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Winner$85,395
Pittsburgh
$65,742
Median household income is $85,395 in Raleigh versus $65,742 in Pittsburgh, so typical pay runs 30% higher in Raleigh (about $19,653 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, Raleigh 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
10% lower crime
Raleigh's crime index is 10% lower than Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Winner142 (100 = avg)
Pittsburgh
158 (100 = avg)
Raleigh's crime index is 142 versus 158 in Pittsburgh (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 10% lower in Raleigh. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Raleigh, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Pittsburgh. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
41% more comfortable
Raleigh weather is 41% more comfortable than Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Winner60°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 86/100
Pittsburgh
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Raleigh averages about 60°F (69°F highs); Pittsburgh averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Raleigh averages around 60°F. Pittsburgh averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Raleigh 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 30% higher ($85,395), 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.
Raleigh is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 10% lower than Pittsburgh (142 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Pittsburgh
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.
Bottom line
Pittsburgh is cheaper on rent ($1,261/month vs $1,572), but Raleigh's $85,395 median income beats Pittsburgh's $65,742 by 23%. Remote workers paid on Raleigh scales can make that trade; local-market earners often cannot.
Raleigh still pays more locally ($85,395 median income vs $65,742), which can offset the lease if your field pays Raleigh rates.
Weather averages land near 60°F in Raleigh and 51°F in Pittsburgh.
Most movers who prioritize local pay land in Raleigh; Pittsburgh only makes sense when $1,261/month housing savings outweigh $85,395 median pay in your field.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Raleigh and Pittsburgh, plus other cities in NC and PA.
