City comparison
Pittsburgh, PA vs South Bend, IN
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Pittsburgh, PA are 2.0% higher than in South Bend, IN. Someone earning $100,000 in South Bend, IN would need about $102,000 in Pittsburgh, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,077 a month in Pittsburgh, PA and $1,105 in South Bend, IN.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $2,921 in IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −3.3% moving from Pittsburgh, PA to South Bend, IN ($110,047 → $106,437), while prices change by −1.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.4% in real buying power.
- Pittsburgh, PA: price level 94.7 (cheaper)
- South Bend, IN: price level 92.9 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Pittsburgh, PA | South Bend, IN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 94.7 | 92.9 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,085 in South Bend | $101,952 in Pittsburgh |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,077/mo | $1,105/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,260 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $2,921 (IN) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 17% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,650 | $46,540 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Pittsburgh, PA and South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Pittsburgh | South Bend |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 74.6 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 87.7 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 99.2 |
| Overall | 94.7 | 92.9 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Pittsburgh, PA → South Bend, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +2.0%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$150/yr.
75 Strong offer
South Bend, IN → Pittsburgh, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −1.9%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$150/yr.
63 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Pittsburgh, PA is in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV pay area; South Bend, IN is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Pittsburgh, PA to South Bend, IN at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Pittsburgh, PA | South Bend, IN | Real change, Pittsburgh → South Bend |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,815 | $61,722 | −1.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,211 | $74,678 | −1.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,543 | $89,508 | −1.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $110,047 | $106,437 | −1.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $130,042 | $125,776 | −1.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Pittsburgh, PA | South Bend, IN | South Bend pay in Pittsburgh dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $76,550 | $58,180 | $59,316 (−22.5%) |
| Software Developers | $124,500 | $95,500 | $97,365 (−21.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,940 | $77,940 | $79,462 (+3.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $82,370 | $93,540 | $95,366 (+15.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.