Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Pittsburgh, PA
The median monthly rent in Pittsburgh, PA is $1,250, translating to $15,000 in annual gross rental income per unit. The rent-to-price ratio is 0.57% — well below the 1% rule, making pure cash flow investing challenging at median prices.
Renters in Pittsburgh spend approximately 28% of the local median household income ($52,800) on rent. This is within the healthy 25-30% range, indicating rent is affordable relative to local incomes. There may be room for moderate rent increases, especially for updated or well-located units.
The vacancy rate in Pittsburgh is 6%. This is a healthy vacancy rate that indicates balanced supply and demand. You should be able to find quality tenants without extended vacancies, though expect normal turnover periods of 2-4 weeks between tenants. Population growth of 0.2% annually provides stable demand.
Pittsburgh's GRM (price divided by annual rent) is 14.7x. A GRM between 12-16x is moderate and typical of balanced markets. Deals can work but you need to keep expenses controlled. For comparison, the national average GRM for investment-grade rentals is approximately 13-15x.
At the median rent of $1,250/mo, a single-family rental in Pittsburgh generates approximately $15,000 in gross annual income. After accounting for 6% vacancy ($900 lost), property taxes of $2,992, insurance (~$880), and maintenance (~$880), the estimated NOI is $9,348 per year, or $779/mo.