CostIndexUSA

Brownsville, TX vs Pittsburgh, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
Brownsville
86
overall index
$1,425/mo rent
PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent

Brownsville is moderately cheaper than Pittsburgh — 10.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Brownsville, you would need $88,100 in Pittsburgh. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+24.8%
Brownsville
57.7
Pittsburgh
72
🛒 Groceries+7.4%
Brownsville
93.8
Pittsburgh
100.7
🚗 Transportation+1.5%
Brownsville
101.1
Pittsburgh
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Brownsville
91.4
Pittsburgh
92.8
Utilities+32.6%
Brownsville
81.2
Pittsburgh
107.7

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Brownsville to see what you'd need to earn in Pittsburgh to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Pittsburgh, PA
$88,100
$8,100 more needed in Pittsburgh

Formula: salary × (94.7 ÷ 86) = salary × 1.1012. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Home Price
$200,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,425
Housing Index
57.7
Price-to-Rent Ratio
11.7×

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Home Price
$218,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,450
Housing Index
72
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.5×

Pittsburgh has 24.8% higher housing costs compared to Brownsville.

Income & Job Market

Brownsville, TX

Median Household Income
$52,200
Per Capita Income
$29,800
Unemployment Rate
5.6%
Population
183,392
Top Industries
International TradeHealthcareGovernmentManufacturingEducation

Pittsburgh, PA

Median Household Income
$72,500
Per Capita Income
$41,300
Unemployment Rate
3.7%
Population
302,971
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyFinanceEducationManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Brownsville, TX
3.1×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.