Moving from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh

The Story

Philly-to-Pittsburgh is intra-Pennsylvania move with same tax. Housing 12% cheaper ($245K → $215K), COL 7% lower. Pull: CMU robotics (top US robotics school), UPMC healthcare, three rivers, easy 5-hour drive between cities.

Why This Move

Why people move from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

Housing 12% cheaper — modest savings
Cost of living 7% lower
Same PA tax — no change
CMU robotics — top US robotics school
UPMC — top US healthcare system
Three rivers — Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio
Property taxes equal (both PA 1.5%)
Easy 5-hour drive between cities

Cost Comparison

The money side of PA → PA.

Philadelphia

Median home$245,000
Income tax3.07% (PA flat)
Cost index102

Pittsburgh

Median home$215,000
Income tax3.07% (PA flat)
Cost index95

What to Do in Pittsburgh

Things you'll want to know about your new city.

Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Pittsburgh, organized by what kind of day you're planning.

Outdoors & Recreation

Duquesne Incline / Mount Washington — 1877 funicular; iconic skyline view from top
Phipps Conservatory — Glasshouse and gardens; Chihuly installations
Schenley Park — 456-acre park with trails; Phipps Conservatory inside

Culture & Arts

Carnegie Museums (Art / Natural History) — T. rex, Picasso, Pollock under one roof
Andy Warhol Museum — World's largest collection of Warhol
Heinz History Center — Western PA history; Mister Rogers exhibit
PNC Park (Pirates) — MLB stadium with downtown skyline view
Strip District — Walkable food district; ethnic markets, Pamela's pancakes
Frick Pittsburgh — Henry Clay Frick mansion, art museum, and grounds

Family-Friendly

Carnegie Science Center — Hands-on science; Highmark SportsWorks; submarine USS Requin

Where to Eat

Pittsburgh's essential restaurants.

The dining list every Pittsburgh resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.

Pamela's Diner Diner Strip District (multiple)

Hotcake legend (Obama's favorite)
Primanti Bros. Sandwiches Strip District (multiple)

Pittsburgh sandwich with fries IN it
Cure Mediterranean Lawrenceville

Justin Severino; James Beard nominee
Driftwood Oven Pizza Lawrenceville

Wood-fired sourdough pizza
Bitter Ends Garden & Luncheonette American Bloomfield

Chef-driven seasonal
Apteka Vegan Eastern European Bloomfield

James Beard winner; pierogies, kapusta
Dianoia's Eatery Italian Strip District

Modern Italian, beloved
Mancini's Bakery Bread/bakery McKees Rocks

Pittsburgh institution since 1926

Where to Live

Best Pittsburgh neighborhoods for Philadelphia transplants.

Mapped to the Philadelphia neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.

Downtown Pittsburgh

If Center City was your goal — walkable urban, restaurants
Lawrenceville

If Northern Liberties was your scene — walkable historic, hip
Squirrel Hill

If Bryn Mawr was your model — walkable historic, family
Sewickley (suburb)

If Wayne was your goal — affluent, walkable, top schools
Mt. Lebanon (suburb)

If Lower Merion was your model — master-planned, top schools
Strip District

If Fishtown was your scene — converted warehouses, food, breweries

Climate & Walkability

What daily life feels like in Pittsburgh.

Climate

Humid continental. Cold winters (22-40°F, 27 inches snow). Warm humid summers (60-83°F). Spring rainy; fall spectacular. Generally cloudier than average. 162 sun days/year.

Summer60-83°F
Winter22-40°F
Sun days/yr162
Rainfall39 inches

Walkability

Walk Score62/100
Transit Score53/100
Bike Score56/100

Pittsburgh is somewhat walkable in central neighborhoods, car-dependent in suburbs.

Outdoors & Recreation

Three Rivers — kayaking, paddleboarding (Allegheny, Monongahela, Ohio)
Frick Park — 644 acres in city
Schenley Park — 456 acres
Great Allegheny Passage — 150-mile rail-trail to DC
Laurel Highlands (1 hr SE) — Fallingwater (Frank Lloyd Wright), skiing, hiking
Ohiopyle State Park — whitewater rafting, hiking

Reality Check

What changes about your daily life.

Same PA 3.07% tax — no change
Housing 12% cheaper — modest savings
COL 7% lower
Climate similar humid continental — both real winters
Property taxes equal
SEPTA → Pittsburgh T (similar smaller)
Pharma (Merck adj) → CMU robotics/UPMC healthcare
Sports — gain Steelers/Penguins/Pirates, lose Eagles/76ers/Phillies/Flyers (PA rivalry!)

Driving Routes

How to drive there.

I-76 W (PA Turnpike)

305 miles direct via Harrisburg, Bedford. 5 hours, easy day move.

Move Logistics

What it takes to move 305 miles.

Full-service (3BR)$2,200-$4,200
Container/PODS$1,600-$2,800
DIY (26-ft truck)$1,200-$2,400
Best monthsApr-Oct
Lead time3-4 weeks ahead

PA intrastate — no DOT change needed

Common Questions