Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Cincinnati, OH and Pittsburgh, PA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricCincinnati, OHPittsburgh, PA
Population308,870303,843
Median household income$49,191$60,187
Median home value$192,000$171,800
Median rent (/mo)$893$1,153

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Cincinnati, OH and Pittsburgh, PA comes down to what you value most. Pittsburgh has the lower median home value, and Cincinnati has the lower median rent.

Pittsburgh 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 Cincinnati or Pittsburgh?
By median home value, Pittsburgh is the cheaper of the two ($171,800 vs $192,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh?
Median household income is $49,191 in Cincinnati versus $60,187 in Pittsburgh, per the US Census Bureau.

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