Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High
Population
494,838 ✓ Larger
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,187
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
Households earn $17,468 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 37°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($171,800 vs $395,600)
49% less violent crime than Atlanta
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,512)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Atlanta
Cons
Median income trails Atlanta by $17,468/yr
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Median Income
$17,468
$77,655 vs $60,187/yr
Atlanta
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
49% lower
427.2 vs 840.6 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$224k less
$171,800 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,153 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $60,187 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 17.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | A- (115) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 46.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 ✓ Larger | 303,843 |
| Median Age | 33.6 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 10 and Pittsburgh wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $171,800 median home), income ($77,655 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 522 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.