Pittsburgh vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Cost of Living Comparison

Pittsburgh

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$9,390
Rent (2BR) -$15,588
Net Income $45,022

To match your lifestyle in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, you'd need:

$118,174

The Verdict

Cost of Living Index

Pittsburgh 72.6
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater 123.5
Cheaper Avg (100) Pricier

Purchasing Power

Pittsburgh $62,006
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater $31,619

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater

Gross Salary $70,000
Tax -$7,241
Rent (2BR) -$23,724
Net Income $39,035

To match your lifestyle in Pittsburgh, you'd need:

$43,050

The Bottom Line

On a $70,000 salary, you would have $5,987 more per year in Pittsburgh compared to Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater. You'd pay $2,149 less in taxes in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, while housing costs 52% more. The cost of living in Pittsburgh is 27% below avg, while Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is 23% above avg, making Pittsburgh the more affordable city overall. Your $70,000 salary in Pittsburgh feels like earning $118,174 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater once you factor in taxes, rent, and cost of living. For K-12 education, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater has a better pupil-teacher ratio (0:1 vs 0:1). College is more affordable in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ($20,861 vs $15,250 avg in-state tuition).

K-12 Schools

Pittsburgh
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Schools
553
589
Enrollment
300,597
415,023
Pupil:Teacher
0:1
0:1
Charter %
4.8%
15.1%
Title I %
0%
0%

Colleges & Universities

Pittsburgh
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Institutions
67
41
In-State Tuition
$20,861
$15,250
Out-of-State
$23,113
$16,986
Grad Rate
63.3%
60.2%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pittsburgh or Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater more expensive?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater is more expensive with a cost of living index of 123.5 vs 72.6 (national average = 100).

What salary in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater equals $70,000 in Pittsburgh?

You would need to earn approximately $118,174 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater to maintain the same purchasing power as a $70,000 salary in Pittsburgh, after accounting for taxes, rent, and cost of living differences.

How much is rent in Pittsburgh vs Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater?

Average annual rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $15,588 in Pittsburgh and $23,724 in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater—housing is 52% more in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater.