CostIndexUSA

Pittsburgh, PA vs Rochester, MN Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Pittsburgh
94.7
overall index
$1,450/mo rent
More AffordableMN
Rochester
90.8
overall index
$1,625/mo rent

Rochester is slightly cheaper than Pittsburgh — 4.1% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Pittsburgh, you would need $76,700 in Rochester. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+9.2%
Pittsburgh
72
Rochester
78.6
🛒 Groceries5.3%
Pittsburgh
100.7
Rochester
95.4
🚗 Transportation5.7%
Pittsburgh
102.6
Rochester
96.8
🏥 Healthcare5.6%
Pittsburgh
92.8
Rochester
87.6
Utilities18.8%
Pittsburgh
107.7
Rochester
87.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Rochester, MN
$76,700
$3,300 less needed in Rochester

Formula: salary × (90.8 ÷ 94.7) = salary × 0.9588. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Pittsburgh, PA

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

Rochester, MN

Median Home Price
$324,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,625
Housing Index
78.6
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.6×

Rochester has 9.2% higher housing costs compared to Pittsburgh.

Income & Job Market

Pittsburgh, PA

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

Rochester, MN

Median Household Income
$85,200
Per Capita Income
$48,600
Unemployment Rate
2.8%
Population
121,395
Top Industries
HealthcareTechnologyEducationManufacturingFinance

Affordability at a Glance

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

Pittsburgh, PA
4.2×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Rochester, MN
4.4×income-to-rent ratio

77% 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.