Pittsburgh is better because it offers excellent education, a job market, and lower prices than ABQ, which offsets the high taxes. In contrast, Albuquerque is twice less safe, yet the city has better transportation and fun family activities.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a large urban center in the United States’ Mid-Atlantic area. Pittsburgh is a city that attracts tourists from all over the country, whether for business or pleasure.
Albuquerque is a city with a lot to offer. Living in this high-desert location has several advantages, including sunny weather, plenty of outdoor activities, and a relatively inexpensive cost of living.
However, living in Pittsburgh promises plenty of advantages than in Albuquerque.
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What are the Pros and Cons of Pittsburgh vs. Albuquerque?
Pittsburgh is cheaper than Albuquerque and has high-quality education and plenty of outdoor activities, yet has higher taxes. Albuquerque, in comparison, promises affordable costs and taxes but has a crime rate double that of Pittsburgh.
Living in Pittsburgh
Pros
- Lower cost of living and housing prices than ABQ
- High-quality education
- Outdoors
- Sports
- Beer Town
In the Pittsburgh metro region, the cost of living for a family of four is $78,769. The living price in Pittsburgh is 5.80 % lower than the national average.
Housing, health care, and food are cheaper than the state and federal averages, while utilities and transportation are more expensive.
The typical price of a new house in the United States is currently $231,000. If you limit your search to Pennsylvania, the standard home price reduces to $174,000 per square foot. Surprisingly, the cost of a new house in Pittsburgh is even less.
You can take a deep breath if you’re considering moving to Pittsburgh with your children. In the neighborhood, there are some highly regarded public schools.
There are a few public schools that have received less-than-perfect ratings and reviews. However, educational institutions that come highly recommended by students and parents outweigh them.
A significant number of colleges and universities are in Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and the University of Pittsburgh are among the city’s most well-known higher education institutions.
Pittsburgh offers a wide range of outdoor activities. Visit the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium with the kids to view cheetahs, polar bears, flamingos, and more.
Discover breathtaking views of the Pittsburgh skyline from Grandview Avenue and Mount Washington’s Point of View Statue.
The 644-acre Frick Park features tennis courts, playgrounds, and pathways (the largest park in Pittsburgh). SurfSUP Adventures will take you paddleboarding, whitewater rafting, or on-the-water yoga for the day.
Pittsburgh is home to three professional sports clubs that compete in some of the world’s most prestigious leagues. The Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL, the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL, and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball represent the city.
Since 2007, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been a regular in the NHL playoffs. They’ve also won five championships as a franchise, the most recent in 2017.
In Pittsburgh, beer is a big deal. Many citizens claim Yuengling as their city’s beer.
In addition, Pittsburgh has a lot of craft beer. Church Brew Works and Pittsburgh Brewing Co. are two popular breweries in Pittsburgh.
Cons
- Not an easy commute
- High taxes
- Pittsburgh’s average property tax rate is 2.15%, which is higher than Pennsylvania’s 1.50% and the national rate of 1.21%.
- Pennsylvania’s individual income tax rate is 3.07%.
- Pittsburgh has a total sales tax rate of 7%, including the state, county, and municipal. The state sales tax in Pennsylvania is 6%, while the Allegheny County sales tax is 1%.
Pittsburgh is ranked seventh among the ten most crowded cities in the United States. While Pittsburgh’s average commute time is 23.8 minutes, which is somewhat shorter than the national average, it is not always a pleasant experience.
The Parkway in Pittsburgh, which runs from I-79 to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, is one of the busiest in the country.
Pennsylvania has the country’s third-highest tax rate. In addition, the state has the highest gas tax in the country. The following are the taxes you may anticipate paying:
Living in Albuquerque
Pros
- ABQ isotopes
- Luminarias
- Family fun
- Affordable costs and taxes
- Food variety
The ballpark is one of the most excellent spots to spend a summer evening in town. The local minor-league baseball club, a Colorado Rockies Triple-A affiliate, will be supported by ardent supporters.
Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, you can grab a beer and spend the evening with some fantastic people.
This event only happens once a year, yet it is so unique, not to mention. Thousands of luminarias (paper bags with candles inside) light up the plaza on Christmas Eve night, making it a gathering spot for the whole city.
Strangers sing carols in the gazebo together, revelers drink hot chocolate, and friendly store owners give a warm spot by the fire. You may also take a bus tour of the Country Club area.
The city has been ranked among the best ten towns for families several times. Families will have many entertaining alternatives to pick from, ranging from nature centers and museums to amusement parks and sports stadiums.
The younger children may enjoy seeing the animals at the zoo, while the older children may enjoy participating in hands-on science projects. Hiking, riding, and even ballooning are all options for your family if they want to do something outdoors.
The residents in ABQ spend less on transportation, food, and power than the national average.
Not to mention that, in addition to low property taxes, the state income tax in Albuquerque is 24% cheaper than the national average. Albuquerque is a cost-effective city to live, work, and retire in because of its affordable costs and taxes.
Green chilis are appreciated in New Mexico as peaches and pineapples are in Georgia and Hawaii. The local component represents the state’s cuisine in restaurant-heavy areas like Albuquerque.
Albuquerque’s spicy cuisine is well-known. Chile is always a part of city cuisine’s ingredients.
Albuquerque restaurants include everything from brick-oven pizzerias to pit-smoked barbecue eateries, Vietnamese cafés, and top steakhouses if you don’t want to consume spicy cuisine.
There are vegetarian, Mediterranean, Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Chinese cuisines.
Cons
- Isolated city
- Frequent crime than Pittsburgh
Albuquerque is a relatively secluded city, despite borders with Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Significant cities must still travel another six and a half hours to reach Phoenix and more than 10 hours to arrive at any of Texas’ more prominent cities. Weekend visits to other cities may not be possible due to New Mexico’s enormous size and rural nature.
Unfortunately, Albuquerque has a persistent crime issue. From the wealthy slopes to the historic center, violence is consistent no matter where you live in town.
Property crime increased in New Mexico, attributable primarily to the circumstances in Albuquerque.
The city’s high crime rate is attributable to several socioeconomic challenges, including low educational levels, a high unemployment rate, and a high frequency of drug abuse.
Albuquerque or Pittsburgh – Which is more expensive?
Living in Albuquerque is 4.1% more expensive than in Pittsburgh. In comparison to Pittsburgh, housing costs in Albuquerque are 41.9% more.
| Living expenses | Albuquerque | Pittsburgh |
| Housing | 88.0% | 62.0% |
| Food & Groceries | 96.0% | 101.0% |
| Health | 81.1% | 85.7% |
| Utilities | 97.2% | 102.3% |
| Transportation | 89.4% | 105.5% |
Data is 100 = US National Average
> 100 means more expensive than the national average
< 100 means cheaper than the national average
Housing
The price of housing in Albuquerque is 41.9% more than in Pittsburgh. ABQ only has a median house price range of $332,426 and a monthly median rent of $1,041.
In contrast, Pittsburgh has a lower median house price of $317,505 and a median rent of $994.61 per month.
Food & Groceries
Pittsburgh’s food and grocery prices are slightly more costly than in ABQ. One example is the price of one liter of milk in ABQ, which is only $0.83, compared to $1.06 in Pittsburgh.
Health
Healthcare costs are 5.4% cheaper in ABQ than in Pittsburgh. In Pittsburgh, a dentist’s appointment may cost $89.21, while a dentist visit in ABQ would only cost $93.49.
Utilities
The utility fees in ABQ are cheaper than in Pittsburgh. The monthly energy in Pittsburgh costs $184.43 compared to ABQ’s $142.85.
Transportation
Transportation fees in Pittsburgh are somewhat higher than in ABQ. A standard tariff in riding a taxi in Pittsburgh can cost you around $4.00. Meanwhile, it can only cost you $2.50 in ABQ.
Is Albuquerque bigger than Pittsburgh?
In terms of geographical area, Albuquerque is three times bigger than Pittsburgh. However, Pittsburgh has a denser population and a superior economy than Albuquerque.
Pittsburgh has a 58.35 mi² land area and, as of 2022, has a denser population of 1,699,000. In comparison, Albuquerque has a more extensive land area of 188.9 mi² with a less dense population of 942,000 as of 2022.
In terms of land area, ABQ is three times bigger than Pittsburgh. However, Pittsburgh has a denser population and a better economy.
Unlike Albuquerque, Pittsburgh is not facing a higher than the national average unemployment rate. As of November 2021, Pittsburgh has an unemployment rate of 4.20%.
Compared to ABQ’s 5.5%, Pittsburgh offers a more robust job market than ABQ.
Therefore, Pittsburgh is bigger than ABQ in terms of economy and population.
Is Pittsburgh safer than Albuquerque?
Pittsburgh is twice safer than Albuquerque. Pittsburgh has a safety scale of 60.91, whereas ABQ only has 29.34. Moreover, the crime count in Albuquerque is almost twice higher than in Pittsburgh.
Albuquerque’s crime index is 70.76 compared to Pittsburgh’s 39.09. The crime count in Albuquerque is 1.8 times higher than in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh has a high safety scale of 60.91, while Albuquerque’s safety scale is 29.34. Pittsburgh’s high safety scale makes it twice safer than ABQ.
If you live in Pittsburgh, you have a one-in-137 risk of becoming a victim of violent crime. At the same time, a victim of property crime has a one-in-29 probability of becoming a victim.
In Albuquerque, your odds of becoming a victim of any crime are substantially higher. In ABQ, you have a one-in-20 risk of becoming a victim of property crime. You have a one-in-75 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
Thus, Pittsburgh is undeniably much safer than Albuquerque.
Is Albuquerque hotter than Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh’s annual average high temperature is 83°F, with only 160 sunny days per year. Meanwhile, Albuquerque has longer sunny days of 280 and a higher average yearly high temperature of 93°F. Albuquerque is, thus, hotter than Pittsburgh.
Summers in Pittsburgh are hot and partially overcast, while winters are freezing, snowy, and largely cloudy. The temperature ranges typically from 23°F to 83°F throughout the year, with temperatures seldom falling below 7°F or rising over 91°F.
On the other hand, ABQ experiences year-round temperatures ranging from 27°F to 93°F. Temperatures seldom drop below 18°F or climb over 99°F.
ABQ has longer sunny days of 280 per year. Whereas Pittsburgh only has an average of 160 sunny days yearly.
Thus, ABQ is hotter than Pittsburgh.
Is Albuquerque better than Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh is better than Albuquerque. Pittsburgh boasts high-quality education, a more substantial job market, and lower prices than ABQ. In contrast, Albuquerque has affordable living costs and taxes with better transportation but is twice more dangerous than Pittsburgh.
One of the most excellent features of living in Pittsburgh is the availability of inexpensive housing and high-quality higher education.
If you’re a huge sports lover, it’s also a terrific spot to call home. However, Pittsburgh’s taxes and commute are among its cons.
In comparison, the old town vibe and cheaper taxes and prices in Albuquerque are desirable. Albuquerque is far from another neighboring metropolis, making the city somewhat isolated.
In terms of safety, living in Albuquerque is twice less safe than in Pittsburgh. Despite Pittsburg’s cons, it has many pros that outweigh its cons.
Therefore, Pittsburgh is better than Albuquerque.
Pittsburgh versus Albuquerque – Where are you moving to? Let me know your thoughts.