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Pittsburgh, PA BAH Rates, Housing, Education, & Cost of Living

Discover Pittsburgh BAH Rates, Housing, Education, & Cost of Living

BAH Rates for Pittsburgh, PA

Find housing, employment, cost-of-living, education, and BAH rates for Pittsburgh, PA. Below are BAH Rates, college and universities, cost-of-living information, school resources for children of military families, and things to see and do in the Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh is the second most populous city in Pennsylvania and is a major metropolitan area in the Western part of the state. The metropolitan area of Pittsburgh encompasses seven counties and is nestled on the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers.

Some of the military installations in Pennsylvania include:

• Carlisle Barracks
• Defense Logistics Agency at Susquehanna
• Raven Rock Mountain Complex
• Tobyhanna Army Depot
• USAREC, Harrisburg Battalion
• Naval Support Activity Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh, PA BAH Rates

BAH Rate Calculator

Rank	With	Without
E1	1986	1491
E2	1986	1491
E3	1986	1491
E4	1986	1491
E5	2184	1668
E6	2580	1932
E7	2601	1992
E8	2610	2265
E9	2694	2379
W1	2598	1950
W2	2607	2262
W3	2619	2394
W4	2736	2574
W5	2916	2586
O1e	2604	2181
O2e	2613	2352
O3e	2760	2571
O1	2238	1782
O2	2577	2121
O3	2616	2433
O4	2976	2577
O5	3252	2589
O6	3282	2592
O7	3306	2616

 

Local Colleges and Universities

The Pittsburgh area is home to several colleges and universities. Below is a partial list.

• University of Pittsburgh (zip code – 15260)
• Carnegie Mellon University (zip code – 15213)
• Duquesne University (zip code – 15282)
• Robert Morris University (zip code – 15108)
• Chatham University (zip code – 15232)
• Point Park University (zip code – 15222)
• Washington & Jefferson College (zip code – 15301)
• Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (zip code – 15122)

 

To find more Pittsburgh schools, use the free CollegeRecon School Finder tool.

Using Your GI Bill

Anyone considering using the Post 9/11 GI Bill in Pittsburgh should know the following:

• You may be eligible for the Pittsburgh-area Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) if you are a full-time student.
• MHA is comparable to the Pittsburgh Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
• MHA is calculated based on the zip code of where you physically attend most of your classes.
• Up to $1,000 is available each year for books and supplies.
• The Post-9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to a spouse or dependent, but you must still be on active duty to transfer it.
• The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial support in specific situations where the GI Bill does not fully cover the cost of tuition at participating Pittsburgh colleges.

Cost of Living in Pittsburgh

According to Bestplaces, Pittsburgh’s Cost-of-Living index is 91.8, which means that the total cost of housing, food, and other necessities is 8.2 percent lower than the U.S. national average and 3.0 percent lower than the average for the rest of the state.

While housing is lower than the state and national average, utilities, transportation, and groceries are slightly higher than average.

Category/Index

• Overall – 91.8
• Housing – 74.9
• Groceries – 101
• Transportation – 105.5
• Utilities – 102.3

Pittsburgh Housing

Understanding Pittsburgh’s housing costs and neighborhoods is important when deciding where to live. Pittsburgh is an increasingly popular place to live due to its affordable cost of living, access to employment opportunities, and dynamic, family-oriented neighborhoods.

Some of the most affordable and desirable neighborhoods in the Pittsburgh area include:

Lawrenceville – $812
Shadyside – $1,123
Squirrel Hill North – $974
Stanton Heights – $883
Swisshelm Park – $794

Primary Education

Pittsburgh is home to high-quality primary schools and top-rated school districts. For families looking for an alternative to public schools, private and charter schools are options. Top-rated school districts in the Pittsburgh area include North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, and Fox Chapel.

The top primary schools, according to GreatSchools, include:

• Marzolf Primary School
• Fred L. Aiken Elementary School
• Howe Elementary School
• Ingomar Elementary School
• McKnight Elementary School

To find more Pittsburgh schools, use the free CollegeRecon School Finder tool.

Employment Opportunities in Pittsburgh

The unemployment rate in Pittsburgh, according to BestPlaces, is 7.1%, which is slightly higher than the national average. Pittsburgh is home to many top-rated companies and is the headquarters of Kraft Heinz Company.

Pittsburgh is traditionally known as the “Steel City” due to its role as a center of the steel industry during the industrial age. While steel is still an important part of Pittsburgh’s economy, other key industries have emerged, particularly in the tech sector.

Job seekers can find employment in the following industries:

• Energy
• Life Sciences & Healthcare
• Manufacturing & Distribution
• Robotics & AI
• Cybersecurity
• Climate Tech & Decarbonization

Things To See and Do in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is a dynamic city with a rich industrial and mining history that adds to the city’s charm. It is a city full of arts and culture, craft breweries, and fun things to do for people of all ages.

• Take a ride on the Duquesne Incline to the top of Mount Washington to get a bird’s eye view of the Pittsburgh skyline that is famously abundant with bridges.
• Stop and smell the roses at Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This horticultural hub of Pittsburgh offers family-friendly activities, beautiful gardens, and a spectacular collection of greenhouses.
• Partake in the quintessential American pastime by catching a baseball game at PNC Park.
• Have a day of educational fun for the whole family at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Science Center.
• Take an afternoon to soak in some mid-century pop art heritage at The Andy Warhol Museum. This museum is the largest in North America that is dedicated to a single artist and is home to an extensive permanent collection of the iconic Pittsburgh native, Andy Warhol.
• Visit the Strip District – this neighborhood was once a warehouse district and has become one of Pittsburgh’s coolest places to hang out. It offers great restaurants, boutique shops, craft breweries, and markets to explore.