Home Affordability
#2
of 124 cities
≈1.8 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
#6 of 124
North America
Pittsburgh
PA, United States
Salary & Cost of Living
How do salaries and expenses in Pittsburgh compare to San Francisco?
Purchasing Power Comparison
An engineer in Pittsburgh is 8% worse off vs in San Francisco
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Pittsburgh compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Net Salary
$96,425
-$76K (-44%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 28%
Community Insights
NewPittsburgh presents a compelling value proposition for software engineers, trading the infinite career velocity of Silicon Valley for top-tier affordability and a distinct, grounded culture. While the raw salary numbers might appear lower than coastal giants, the purchasing power ranks among the best in the nation. The tech scene is sophisticated but niche, heavily weighted towards robotics, AI, and healthcare rather than general consumer web apps.
However, potential residents must be prepared for the gloomy weather and a smaller job market that doesn't support rapid-fire job switching locally. The city is transitioning successfully from steel to tech, but it retains a gritty, authentic edge that residents either deeply love or find confining.
Resident Sentiment
Transplants often express pleasant surprise at how far their money goes and how "livable" the city is, frequently comparing it favorably to the chaotic growth of Austin or the expense of the Northeast corridor.
Long-term residents fiercely defend the city's "weird" personality and food scene, though complaints about the grey skies and the "Pittsburgh Left" driving style are perennial discussion topics. There is a strong sentiment that the city is a hidden gem that is finally getting its due, though some worry about rising rents eroding its primary advantage.
Rankings
Top 2%
Purchasing Power
#6
of 124 cities
Net Income
#18
of 124 cities
$96,425/yr
Current value
Housing Affordability
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Pittsburgh compared to San Francisco?
Salary Converter
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Pittsburgh to maintain the same standard of living.
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