Seattle - WA vs Pittsburgh - PA: 2026 Housing Comparison

What this means for buyers

Seattle - WA is roughly 216% more expensive than Pittsburgh - PA in typical home value. Homes sit on market longer in Seattle - WA (27 days vs 15), suggesting more buyer leverage there. Seattle - WA sees more listings with price cuts (34.2% vs 30.2%), a sign of softening seller expectations.

Seattle vs Pittsburgh: what the numbers say

At today's 7.24% average 30-year rate with 20% down, the typical home would cost about $3,926 a month in principal and interest in Seattle and $1,244 in Pittsburgh, a gap of $2,682 a month.

Typical rent runs $2,250 in Seattle and $1,467 in Pittsburgh, so the mortgage payment alone is 1.7 times rent in Seattle and 0.8 times rent in Pittsburgh, before taxes and insurance.

Home prices are 26.7 years of rent in Seattle and 13.0 in Pittsburgh; the lower ratio in Pittsburgh means buying there is cheaper relative to renting.

Over the last 23 months typical values moved -2.9% in Seattle and +2.2% in Pittsburgh; over just the last three months the change was -0.3% in Seattle and +0.3% in Pittsburgh.

Homes sell for 99.3% of list price in Seattle and 98.3% in Pittsburgh, after 27 and 15 days on the market, with price cuts on 34% and 30% of listings. The signs are mixed: Seattle has more price cuts and longer time on the market, while Pittsburgh has sales further below list.

The number of homes for sale is up 20% on a year ago in Seattle and up 13% on a year ago in Pittsburgh.

Payments assume a 30-year fixed loan at the Freddie Mac weekly average rate (2026-10-29), 20% down, principal and interest only. Home values, rents and market figures are Zillow Research metro data.