CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Sacramento, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
CA
Sacramento
106.7
overall index
$2,200/mo rent

Pittsburgh is moderately cheaper than Sacramento — 12.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $90,100 in Sacramento. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+80.8%
Pittsburgh
72
Sacramento
130.2
🛒 Groceries+4.5%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Sacramento
105.2
🚗 Transportation+2.6%
Pittsburgh
102.6
Sacramento
105.3
🏥 Healthcare+2.7%
Pittsburgh
92.8
Sacramento
95.3
Utilities+40.5%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Sacramento
151.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Pittsburgh to see what you'd need to earn in Sacramento to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Sacramento, CA
$90,100
$10,100 more needed in Sacramento

Formula: salary × (106.7 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 1.1267. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Sacramento, CA

Median Home Price
$566,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,200
Housing Index
130.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Sacramento has 80.8% higher housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

Income & Job Market

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

Sacramento, CA

Median Household Income
$95,000
Per Capita Income
$54,100
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
Population
524,943
Top Industries
GovernmentHealthcareTechnologyEducationAgriculture

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Sacramento, CA
3.6×income-to-rent ratio

72% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.