An Overview of Cost of Living in Pittsburg, CA
Getting a feel for the cost of living in Pittsburg is essential for anyone planning to relocate, as it empowers them to make informed financial decisions, secure a comfortable lifestyle and maintain financial stability in their new environment. The cost of living in Pittsburg is 150, which is 50% higher than the national average. Relocating individuals may need to adjust their savings and investment strategies based on the cost of living in the new location. It influences decisions about retirement planning, investments and financial goals.
If you prioritize affordability when seeking a new place to live, Pittsburg may not be your ideal choice, as it ranks among the most expensive locations in the entire United States. A very small amount of areas exhibit a cost of living at least 20% higher than the national average, and unfortunately, Pittsburg falls into this category, which may not align with your preferences for a budget-friendly living environment.
Housing costs make up a big chunk of the cost of living in Pittsburg, and they usually eat into a large part of your take-home pay. Unfortunately, in this area, both buying a home and renting one costs 118.9% more than the average city. This includes stuff like home prices, rent, mortgage rates, and insurance.
Recurring goods and services expenses like haircuts, toothpaste, gym memberships and movie nights are a big part of your spending and make up 33% of the cost of living index. In Pittsburg, these items will cost you 14.1% more than what most folks pay, making it a bit more expensive to live here.
Groceries are getting more expensive by the day and the cost of groceries makes up 13% of the overall cost of living index. In the past two years, prices have shot up by over 10%! Unfortunately, in Pittsburg, it's the same story – grocery costs are 17.2% higher than what people pay across the country.
What Do Locals Say About the Cost of Living in Pittsburg?
The most insightful perspective on a city comes from its residents. We recently surveyed 7 locals to gauge their perception of the cost of living in Pittsburg. The feedback revealed that 57% of respondents found the cost of living to be reasonable, with prices on the decline, while 43% regarded it as notably expensive with prices that continue to rise.
Is Pittsburg Affordable?
Is Pittsburg an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Pittsburg, the median home price is 130.3% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 92.5% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Pittsburg come in at $83,163, which is 50.3% higher than the national average.
What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Pittsburg?
Transportation: If public transportation is limited or not available, residents may need to own and maintain vehicles, which can add to the cost of living. Gas, insurance, regular maintenance and potentially lease or finance payments will all need to be paid on a monthly basis. In Pittsburg, the transportation index is 29.2% higher than the national average.
Taxes: Cities that impose higher taxes, including sales and income taxes, can contribute to an escalated cost of living. The added expense of taxes on everyday goods like clothing and food naturally results in higher overall costs. Similarly, a higher income tax rate can further elevate the cost of living. In Pittsburg, the general sales tax rate starts at 7.25%, and income tax rates begin at 1%.
Utilities: As with the prices of anything else, utility costs can exhibit significant variations, contingent on factors like climate, energy source availability, geographic location and state regulations. The expenses associated with electricity, water, heating, and waste disposal can fluctuate, either upward or downward, depending on the particular city or state. In Pittsburg, the utilities index registers 33.7% higher than the national average.
Where is the Data From?
The Pittsburg cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. Published on a quarterly basis, it compiles data from more than 300 independent researchers, encompassing over 60 goods and services. These items have been meticulously selected to represent various consumer expenditure categories, in 6 categories. Weightings assigned to cost differentials draw from government survey data tracking spending patterns among professional and executive households. While the C2ER index excludes data on sales or income tax rates, AreaVibes incorporates tax rates into the overall cost of living score for each region.
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