($1,368) Movers From Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh , PA

What to know before moving from Des Moines to Pittsburgh

Moving from Des Moines to Pittsburgh comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Pittsburgh is generally more expensive than Des Moines, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Pittsburgh are 30% higher than in Des Moines, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Des Moines.
  Home prices in Pittsburgh are 15.7% higher than in Des Moines.
• Income in Pittsburgh is 7.2% lower than in Des Moines, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Pittsburgh include UPMC, The PNC Financial Services Group, and Ppg Industries.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Pittsburgh , since the cost of living for a single person in Pittsburgh is 12.6% higher than in Des Moines. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Pittsburgh , keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Pittsburgh is 14.4% higher than in Des Moines.
• The unemployment rate in Pittsburgh is 20.34% higher than in Des Moines.
• Sales taxes are the same in Pittsburgh and Des Moines.
• One perk of moving to Pittsburgh is paying less in state income taxes, which are 30.23% lower than in Des Moines.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $3,377.58 in Pittsburgh to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Des Moines.

How life is different in Des Moines vs. Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 57% less than Des Moines.
• Pittsburgh offers better access to buses and trains than Des Moines, based on public transportation ratings. Pittsburgh has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 5 in Des Moines. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Pittsburgh means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Des Moines. Pittsburgh is considered more walkable than Des Moines, with a score of 62 out of 100 versus 45 out of 100 in Des Moines. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Pittsburgh is considered more bike-friendly than Des Moines in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Pittsburgh has a bike-friendliness score of 55 out of 100, while Des Moines is rated as 39 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Pittsburgh is higher than in Des Moines, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 37.74 in Pittsburgh , it is 5.0 in Des Moines. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Pittsburgh than in Des Moines, based on Pittsburgh ’s safety index of 62.26 versus 57.8 for Des Moines. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
• The air quality in Pittsburgh and Des Moines is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Des Moines vs. Pittsburgh move

• Weather: Pittsburgh summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Despite this, it has one of the most pleasant summer climates between medium and large cities in the U.S
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: For decades movers In Pennsylvania were regulated by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). Each company was issued a PUC Number and was required to abide by a universal publicly published tariff that established the rates movers could charge for various services. Now, some sources claim that the PUC no longer regulates in-state movers, and it appears as though the PUC’s website is no longer functioning. So if you’re moving within Pennsylvania, you’ll want to address these issues with your moving company representative and if possible, contact the state directly. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Pennsylvania moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Pennsylvania does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Pittsburgh . Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.In Pennsylvania, movers typically offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. For more comprehensive coverage, inquire about Full Value Protection with the moving company, or explore third-party insurance options for tailored plans. Consider coverage limits, additional costs, and reviews before making a decision.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Pittsburgh

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Birmingham of America", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Pittsburgh .

Helpful moving resources