Irvine vs Pittsburgh: Cost of Living (2026)
A side-by-side comparison of Irvine, CA and Pittsburgh, PA, using US Census Bureau data.
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 304,527 | 303,843 |
| Median household income | $122,948 | $60,187 |
| Median home value | $1,025,700 | $171,800 |
| Median rent (/mo) | $2,749 | $1,153 |
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.
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compare-top (set NEXT_PUBLIC_ADSENSE_CLIENT to serve real ads)Comparing Irvine, CA and Pittsburgh, PA comes down to what you value most. Pittsburgh has the lower median home value, and Pittsburgh has the lower median rent.
Irvine has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Frequently asked questions
- Is it cheaper to live in Irvine or Pittsburgh?
- By median home value, Pittsburgh is the cheaper of the two ($171,800 vs $1,025,700). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
- Which has higher salaries, Irvine or Pittsburgh?
- Median household income is $122,948 in Irvine versus $60,187 in Pittsburgh, per the US Census Bureau.