Uprootmap
Charleston vs Pittsburgh
Charleston and Pittsburgh
Photo: Suiseiseki / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Pittsburgh are close to the US rate in this release, 5.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Charleston to Pittsburgh
In 2022-2023, 34 households filed a move from Charleston to Pittsburgh (about 45 people, average adjusted gross income $74,735). Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,011 in Charleston and $1,163 in Pittsburgh. Charleston has a state tax on wages. Pittsburgh has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Pittsburgh is 96% of the national level for the same work, against 88% in Charleston.
Pittsburgh averages 162 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 21°F. Charleston is 188 sunny days, 84°F in July, 29°F in January. Commutes average 26 minutes in Pittsburgh and 24 in Charleston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 34 households moved Charleston → Pittsburgh (about 45 people, average AGI $74,735). The reverse flow is too small for the IRS to publish.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Charleston and Pittsburgh changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 209 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,750–$3,300
- Container or pod
- $1,200–$2,250
- Rent a truck
- $450–$900
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Dig into Pittsburgh
Questions
Is Pittsburgh cheaper than Charleston after tax and rent?
No. Pittsburgh leaves about $151 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,011 in Charleston and $1,163 in Pittsburgh.
Does Pittsburgh have state income tax?
Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 3.00%.
Did people actually move from Charleston to Pittsburgh?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.