Source-led head-to-head · 2024 ACS
Moving from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles
Based on 2024 ACS 5-year data, Pittsburgh offers lower housing costs relative to income, with a median home value of $205,800 and rent of $1,261, compared to Los Angeles at $921,200 and $1,933. While LA’s median income is higher at $81,939 versus Pittsburgh’s $65,742, the income-to-housing ratio favors Pittsburgh for affordability. Commute times are shorter in Pittsburgh at 25 minutes versus LA’s 33 minutes. LA applies a modeled 9.30% state income tax in the calculator, while Pittsburgh’s state tax is excluded per data boundaries. Neither city’s data reflects neighborhood-level safety, schools, or job quality.
Corridor Direction & Trade-off Delta
⇄ Switch to Los Angeles → PittsburghMoving from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles
Median Rent Impact
+$672/mo
Moving to Los Angeles costs ~$8,064 more/yr in rent.
State Tax Treatment
+9.3%
~$9,300 more state tax on a $100k salary in California.
Daily Commute Difference
+8 min / day
Difference of ~67 hours per year spent commuting based on 2024 ACS midpoint averages.
Your move
Compare the life behind the offer.
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Search all 32,330 U.S. Census places directly below.Instant results use official 2024 ACS place data. Places with incomplete required signals remain visible in search but cannot be selected.
Directional estimate using ACS citywide benchmarks. Verified profiles may include a simplified state-tax reference; automatically added profiles exclude state tax until an official reference is approved. Exact tax, benefits, debt, housing, insurance, and personal circumstances may materially change the result.
LIVE VERDICTPIT → LAX
38/ 100
The offer needs work
The destination absorbs more of the offer.Estimated annual life delta−$6,096after essentials; unverified state tax excluded
Best gainA large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's
Watch closelyA $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal California tax reference
The short answer
In the uniform one-person renting baseline, Pittsburgh is about $8,064 lower per year. This is not a verdict by itself: replace city medians with the actual offer, address, household, benefits, insurance, and tax details before deciding.
Pittsburgh household income$65,742
Los Angeles household income$81,939
Pittsburgh gross rent$1,261
Los Angeles gross rent$1,933
Housing, income, and tax reference
| Metric | Pittsburgh | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 ACS population | 304,759 | 3,857,263 |
| Median household income | $65,742 | $81,939 |
| Median gross rent | $1,261 | $1,933 |
| Median owner-occupied home value | $205,800 | $921,200 |
| State-tax treatment | Excluded | 9.3% simplified |
Time and daily routine
The commute-time distribution produces a weighted one-way estimate of about 25 minutes in Pittsburgh and 33 minutes in Los Angeles. This citywide estimate cannot capture a specific route, remote-work schedule, or transit choice, so the calculator converts it into an explicit time difference instead of hiding it in a subjective lifestyle score.
Decision checklist
- Median home value and gross rent
- Median household income level
- One-way commute time estimate
- Modeled state income tax treatment
What each city wins
Pittsburgh
Median rent is 23% of median income.. Watch lower home values may reflect older housing stock or limited new construction..
Los Angeles
A large labor market with a household-income benchmark above New York's. Watch a $921,200 ownership benchmark and a conservative marginal california tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How do housing costs compare between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles?
Pittsburgh’s median gross rent is $1,261 and median home value is $205,800, while Los Angeles reports $1,933 in rent and $921,200 in home value, based on 2024 ACS 5-year estimates.
Which city has a higher median household income according to the 2024 ACS?
Los Angeles has a higher median household income at $81,939 compared to Pittsburgh’s $65,742, as reported in the 2024 ACS 5-year Table B19013.
Source boundary: Core figures come from the 2024 ACS five-year tables linked on each city profile. Commute is derived from B08303 midpoint weighting. A state-tax value without an approved official reference is excluded and disclosed. This comparison becomes index-eligible only after its unique analysis clears the content quality gate.