Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A $193,000 home here costs
$1,686per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.32% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $72,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,061. The real number is $625 higher every month, 59% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Allegheny County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Pittsburgh against Allegheny County and Pennsylvania
| Measure | Pittsburgh | Allegheny County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,200 | $216,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,853 | $3,399 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.959% | 1.569% |
| Median gross rent | $1,221 | $1,111 |
| Population | 303,620 | 1,240,476 |
The weather behind that power bill
Pittsburgh sits in Allegheny County, which averages a high of 83.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 22.3°F in its coldest, with 41.34" of precipitation a year and 30% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 826 cooling and 5,407 heating degree days, which is what sets the $178 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Allegheny County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Allegheny County
Full Allegheny County cost breakdown · Every county in Pennsylvania
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Pittsburgh averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Pittsburgh every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Pittsburgh I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Pittsburgh?
A $193,000 home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania costs approximately $1,686 per month with 20% down at 7.32%. That is $1,061 principal and interest, $154 property tax, $64 homeowners insurance, $246 utilities and $161 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has an effective property tax rate of 0.959%, based on a median home value of $193,200 and median real estate taxes of $1,853. That is lower than the Allegheny County average of 1.569%.
What is the average home price in Pittsburgh?
The median owner-occupied home value in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is $193,200, against $216,700 across Allegheny County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Pittsburgh?
Median gross rent in Pittsburgh is $1,221 a month, against $1,686 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Pittsburgh?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $72,500 a year. That covers the full $1,686 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Pittsburgh, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Pennsylvania.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.