Rents are right about where Pittsburgh's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,567 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Pittsburgh, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 49.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Pittsburgh, PA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Pittsburgh, PA stood at $1,229 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,567, reflecting a 27.5% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $54,306 to $65,742 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.1% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 49.1% of adults here, versus 45.7% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Pittsburgh, PA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Pittsburgh on your salary?
At $1,567/mo, how Pittsburgh rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Pittsburgh rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Pittsburgh. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Pittsburgh
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Pittsburgh is $1,567/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,152/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,477/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,232/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,883/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($65,742/yr), Pittsburgh ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pittsburgh an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Pittsburgh?
Which Pittsburgh neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Pittsburgh rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Pittsburgh?
What percentage of Pittsburgh residents rent vs. own?
How does Pittsburgh rent compare to the national average?
At $1,567/mo, rent takes ~29% of Pittsburgh's median household income ($65,742/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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