CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Tempe, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordablePA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
AZ
Tempe
103.3
overall index
$1,725/mo rent

Pittsburgh is moderately cheaper than Tempe — 9.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $87,300 in Tempe. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+68.3%
Pittsburgh
72
Tempe
121.2
🛒 Groceries5.7%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Tempe
95
🚗 Transportation+6.4%
Pittsburgh
102.6
Tempe
109.2
🏥 Healthcare+6.5%
Pittsburgh
92.8
Tempe
98.8
Utilities13.4%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Tempe
93.3

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tempe, AZ
$87,300
$7,300 more needed in Tempe

Formula: salary × (103.3 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 1.0908. 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×

Tempe, AZ

Median Home Price
$442,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,725
Housing Index
121.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
21.4×

Tempe has 68.3% 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

Tempe, AZ

Median Household Income
$85,700
Per Capita Income
$48,800
Unemployment Rate
3.8%
Population
185,038
Top Industries
TechnologyEducationHealthcareRetailFinance

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)

Tempe, AZ
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% 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.