Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pittsburgh, PA
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
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
Seattle
Washington
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
Homes cost $708k less ($171,800 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $792/mo less ($1,153 vs $1,945)
45% less violent crime than Seattle
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $55,881/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.2%)
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $55,881 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 37°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 83°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Pittsburgh
Key Differences at a Glance
Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 94.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
45% lower
427.2 vs 775.1 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$708k less
$171,800 vs $879,900
Pittsburgh
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 83.0°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$55,881
$116,068 vs $60,187/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pittsburgh, PA | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.4 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $171,800 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,153 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,187 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.5% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (112) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.7% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pittsburgh SD | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.6°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.3" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.1" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 303,843 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.5 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 14.6% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pittsburgh's cost of living index is 94.4 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Pittsburgh is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Pittsburgh wins 13 and Seattle wins 10. 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 Pittsburgh to Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($60,187 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pittsburgh, PA and Seattle, WA are about 2,135 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.