City comparison
Cost indices by category, with the US city average (100) marked.
Index: 100 = US city average. Lower is more affordable.
Side-by-side costs, salaries, and sub-category indices.
| Metric | Lancaster | Pittsburgh | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $1,084/mo | $1,153/mo | 6.0% lower in A |
| Median home value | $179,500 | $171,800 | 4.5% higher in A |
| Median household income | $61,014 | $60,187 | 1.4% higher in A |
| Groceries index | 100.8 | 100.8 | ≈ equal |
| Utilities index | 104.9 | 105.2 | ≈ equal |
| Transportation index | 97.2 | 97.2 | ≈ equal |
| Healthcare index | 99.8 | 99.8 | ≈ equal |
How much you'd need to earn in the other city to keep the same standard of living.
If you earn $100,000 in Lancaster, you'd need $94,037 in Pittsburgh to maintain your standard of living.
Climate, safety, and demographics side by side.
Pittsburgh, PA is about 6% cheaper overall than Lancaster, PA, based on our cost-of-living index. Housing costs are roughly 15% lower in Pittsburgh than in Lancaster. If you earn $80,000 in Lancaster, you'd need about $75,230 in Pittsburgh to keep the same standard of living.