CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Saginaw, MI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableMI
Saginaw
90.9
overall index
$1,000/mo rent

Saginaw is slightly cheaper than Pittsburgh — 4.0% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $76,800 in Saginaw. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing11.7%
Pittsburgh
72
Saginaw
63.6
🛒 Groceries7.0%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Saginaw
93.7
🚗 Transportation+1.9%
Pittsburgh
102.6
Saginaw
104.5
🏥 Healthcare+1.9%
Pittsburgh
92.8
Saginaw
94.6
Utilities11.0%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Saginaw
95.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Saginaw, MI
$76,800
$3,200 less needed in Saginaw

Formula: salary × (90.9 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 0.9599. 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×

Saginaw, MI

Median Home Price
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,000
Housing Index
63.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
13.3×

Pittsburgh has 11.7% lower housing costs compared to Saginaw.

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

Saginaw, MI

Median Household Income
$59,300
Per Capita Income
$33,800
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Population
44,909
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentRetailEducation

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)

Saginaw, MI
4.9×income-to-rent ratio

80% 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.