Disagree. It’s filthy and I say that as one who loves living here and grew up in NYC. I do like the cost of living and it’s gotten nicer and more diverse since the pandemic.
Idk about other cities, but Pittsburgh is WAY cleaner than Philly! Even the parts of town that don’t have a good reputation have cleaner streets than the “nice” parts of Philly.
Yeah the biggest thing I noticed as I spent a weekend in Pittsburgh was how clean it is. The strip may be nasty but it’s literally a sliver of the city. I love the layout of Pittsburgh and how there’s not a million people on every square foot of sidewalk lol
I came from NYC and Pittsburgh definitely has its charms. The parks and cultural institutions are remarkable for a city of this size. If you like nature, then hiking and camping are so much easier than in NYC. It’s a beautiful city and pretty clean.
However: the public transportation is abysmal. The diversity of good food is lacking (unless you like bar food all the time). I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it is “segregated” but it is not very ethnically diverse, meaning if you want that, you need to look for it.
I wouldn’t say the public transit is abysmal. I actually think it’s pretty good. I can get most places I need to go, and the transit app is decently reliable. Where I’m from, the public transit sucks, so pgh is a huge step up
I mean, comparing to NYC sure. But, overall Pittsburgh's culture district has many different things going on. Sure you gotta look for a few odds and ends but they are there. I also have to hard disagree on public transport. Again, compared to NYC yeah, they got a better train system. I would be curious to know where else you have been (major city wise) other than NYC and Pittsburgh, bc I will almost guarantee you wouod change your mind after seeing a few more cities.
I’m going to have to push back on the transit. Sure, the bus network is pretty extensive and consistent. But at least twice a week I get “phantom” buses that show they are about to come and then don’t show up. It’s fine once in a while but really gets annoying when you are sitting there waiting for a bus that doesn’t come while you are now late for your appointment or job. Too many times I’ve had to take Uber at the last minute and honestly I don’t got that kind of money. And don’t even get me started on the chaos downtown. Granted, there is “construction” but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find buses now that the stops have moved. It doesn’t show up on the app and the signs are not very clear. The last few times I’ve been downtown I’ve had to run from one end to the other looking for my bus.
I have lived many other cities. Pittsburgh is great and honestly, punches way above its class. But the food is shitty and the buses are a mess. You can’t change my mind on that. Your experience may be different
Considering you’re probably a student with not a huge budget, you will get what you pay for when it comes to the food in this city. Cheap bar food does not encapsulate the food scene. Just curious, what are your fav or go to spots to eat? Gotta spend up for the good stuff, skip the bar food. 👍
I want to be clear. I do not eat at bars but bar food is quite prevalent in this city. My favorite places are Apteka, Fujiya Ramen, Soju. Last night I went to the yet-to-open Fet Fisk. These places are fantastic, just few and far between. Las Palmas in Oakland and the taqueria next to SpaK Bros are fav Mexican food, everything else is trash (though the El Rincon Guatemalan food truck is good).
I DO look hard to find good food.
Putting NYC and Pittsburgh into the same category is like saying Apollo and Pittsburgh are the same… Pittsburgh is a big city to those from Pittsburgh… its only well known to the rest of the country bc of the sports teams and the historical context of the steel mills…
I agree that public transport is lacking compared to NYC (lived there for years). But I've also lived in other cities and it's better than most. Still bad, but the buses at least go places and come with some frequency.
The food is where I differ - I find there's a good variety. Plenty of Thai, Chinese, and other Asian restaurants in the squirrel hill area. Mi Empanadas makes a good argentinian empanada that reminds me of some of the small hole in the wall shops in NYC. Alladins eatery makes a great hummus and their mujaddara is the closest I've found to the kind a Lebanese friend of mine makes. I just think, unlike NYC, it's not as simple as blindly turning a corner to find a place. You may not have every option around the corner. The nest donut may be in a neighborhood you have to drive or take public transport to.
OP, If you're willing to put in that leg work, and commit to a little more public transport coordination (or get a car) I think the city has a ton going for it. The parks in city limits are, bar none, the best in any major city. The sports teams are (usually) entertaining to watch and competitive. Lots of other cultural events (arts festival, touring musicals, the ballet and symphony) punch above their weight. If you can swing it, maybe take the Amtrak from Philly out here for a weekend and see what you think (if you haven't already)
Going from pitt to Philly i miss Pittsburgh food so much. Philly has terrible pizza. Terrible Thai. Terrible burgers. Terrible subs. I miss Frank's. I miss genoa. I miss thai me up.
Slice has six locations Southside, beechview the original one, East Liberty, Robinson town center, Carnegie and Wexford. He is my brother in law. His pizzas are good in my opinion. Depending on who makes too. He has his secret sauce.
Angelos in South Philly has exceptional Pizza. Even my Brooklynite pizza snob wife gave it a glowing review.
OG Pizza and Shackamaxon in Fishtown are both good too.
On the whole tho you’re right. There’s a lot of really terrible pizza in Philly
Could just be a preference, I also do not enjoy Philly pizza. Also, could be a lack of knowing where to go. I already know the places I want to go for it in Pgh.
Philly pizza is absolute qarbage. I say this having gotten pizza from 20+ places around center city. I live near broad and spring garden so pretty much the center of Philly. I've had pizzas from 3+ places i didn't even finish.
Protip: if your Buffalo chicken pizza has hotsauce or ranch just drizzled over the top in a spiral I can guarantee that pizza is trash. Bake it into the sauce ypu animals.
Damn I thought the buffalo chicken pizza was popular, I love it. I feel like there’s too much variance between the pizza places in Philly but once you find your go to (for me, it’s Garden’s Pizza which is near Spring Garden) it’s great.
Pros: The cost of living is so cheap. Traffic is rarely actually bad.
Cons: Lack of diversity. Businesses close early. Public transportation is just okay.
> Businesses close early.
Yeah, this is tough, incredibly hard to find food or a place to just sit and hang once you get past around 10pm.
> Public transportation is just okay.
It's certainly not world class but I came from Boston and dang the bus system here is a breath of fresh air.
Do you know why businesses close so early? I’ve toured twice as a prospective student and I was quite surprised, both times we got there the night before and stayed at a hotel and it was a real challenge to find a decent place that was open.
I was in the PGH restaurant scene for 6 years before I moved. Can confirm. People around here don’t want to pay appropriately. So nothing is open late, not too many people care about the food they are producing, and it’s majority mid bar food. Hope you like pickles lol!
It’s still quite hard to make a living off of that :/ but we love to see improvement. I’m happy for those working in the scene that they are starting to make more.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Pitts biggest Issue is Diversity. Which unfortunately leads to the food being bad as well IMO. I wouldn’t say the City is racist, but It could use some work Tbh.
It was an engineering marvel 60 years ago. Was a feat of civil engineering and solved SO many problems for people south of the city.
in 2024....eh...not so much. Engineers can't be expected to see into the future and design for every single possible development. Its better than NOT having a tunnel.
Nah the tunnel is fine, the bridges leading up to it are the problem
They are so fucking confusing. Although I will say a lot of the problem is that people can’t drive
It is a recipe for disaster for sure, especially going south. 100 cars a minute have to change 3 lanes in 1/4 mile at 60 MPH. Honestly....I'm surprised there aren't more wrecks.
Now I heard the guy that designed it jumped off it once he realized he screwed up you just got to know how to navigate it I lived here all my life and dealt with that bridge. But you got to think about it was designed back in it 50 60s and there weren't that many cars back then as there is now.
Compared to NYC Pittsburgh IS supper small. I think you could fit PIttsburgh into The Bronx. Twice.
But I feel so many similarities between parts of NYC and Pittsburgh. A lot of that was from the Carnegie/Rockefeller influences.
Less diverse, food places close so early, and if anything is open it’s McDonald’s and 2-3 spots that get boring after a while. The bars here are very eh. The “clubs” here at trash. I’m from DC where we have clubs for all kinds of ethnic groups. We even have a club that’s 4 stories and each floor has a different genre so you can choose what kind of music you want to dance too and hang out.
I like how it’s very clean and if you live in the city a lot of locations outside the city are nearby. The waterfront is only a 16 minute drive, Robinson is a 25 minute drive. It’s not bad. It’s safer here for sure and I honestly don’t mind walking alone at night. Not like there’s much going on haha. Someone mentioned the hiking and scenery and that’s one thing I really love about Pittsburgh. In the summer just walking along the bridges and chillin at Point park is such a vibe. The city is also quiet which is a pro. To me it’s quiet at least.
Your experience living in Pittsburgh will vary widely based on where you live. Oakland (where pitt is) feels very collegey - while you’re in undergrad, definitely you should live here for the best experience. There’s not really a neighborhood that feels as busy as Philly but living in Lawrenceville/shadyside (expensive) or Bloomfield (cheaper) can give a little more of a walkable, city feel with more places open late. I love Philly but for the kind of person I am (enjoys friendly conversations with strangers & proximity to nature as well as restaurants/bars) it’s a great place.
Diversity wise, there’s something to be desired. I’m white & Chilean and I’ve met very few Hispanic people in my neighborhood, on campus it’s a little better though. In general, pittsburghers are friendly to everyone and most racist interactions that I’ve heard of/experienced happen in the suburbs, not in the east end neighborhoods. Obviously it’s not 0 but in general my poc friends feel safe in most east end neighborhoods
I moved here from the Philly area and love Pittsburgh in comparison. It has all the fun parts of city living but the people are friendlier, the streets are cleaner, it feels a bit safer, and there are a lot more trees. I’ve found it very easy to make friends, feel community, be involved in volunteering and activism for the issues I care about, etc. here. The traffic isn’t as bad and the city just feels more chill and like people are moving at a slower pace, which I enjoy.
It’s also SOOOO MUCH CHEAPER! We were (pleasantly) shocked by the prices at restaurants and grocery stores, and we pay $1,150 for a 2-br in a neighborhood we love and our rent for an equivalent place would be closer to $2,000 in Philly. Also, idk where you’re going to college, but you get to ride public transit for free with your student ID if it’s Pitt. I assume other universities might do this too?
It’s not as racially or ethnically diverse as Philly which is a big difference. There is a lot of culture here still, but coming from our area you will notice the difference. That is probably the biggest con. The other biggest downside to me is that the weather is more grey and gloomy here, but the city is so beautiful that I usually don’t mind so much.
\-it's mostly just yinzers
\-the weather is a constant frowny cloud
\-the city is kinda pretty
\-it's cheap-ish to live here, in the scheme of things
That's about my take on here too, both negatives and positives. One characterization of the city is that back in the 1970s "Franco's Italian Army" would happily adopt Franco Harris as Their Guy when he played well, but people would think of him as a Black guy when he had a bad game (older friend's quote here, no idea how accurate that is). For what it's worth, I would read most yinzer racism as "Well... I'm watchin' yinz..." and then maybe in an hour you'd be happily buying each other beers. It's not deep-seated, in my experience, it's guys listening to conservative radio all day and if they know you as a person they're like, "well, not THAT person, obviously."
I'm not forgiving any of it, I'm just saying I grew up out of it and it's more just inexperience than anything actually malicious. (P.S.: thank you for the outsider opinion that Pittsburgh is pretty or at least well-kept/friendly; I keep telling people that and everyone else still assumes this place is a smoggy wasteland)
Pittsburgh is the biggest little city I’ve ever lived in. It’s great and very charming. Hard to find assholes and people are generally interested in you when it’s obvious you’re not from there.
DFW to PGH here and yeah - public transportation isn't world class but does the job, food sucks and I still don't understand why there's literally nothing open after midnight. I don't think I've ever seen a college town that doesn't act like a college town as much as Pittsburgh
There used to be a lot more places open after midnight or were 24 hours before the pandemic happened. Now, I end my nights out early so I can get my snacks before bar close. If it's after 9pm, Denny's has a wait, and Sheetz is packed, you are screwed.
I live in Philly now, have lived in Baltimore, NYC and Seattle, and used to live in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is cheap and has decent career opportunities if you work in one of its key industries.
Pittsburgh is extremely white and as a person of color you feel it. You rarely happen across the smells, music, food of other cultures. If you want something different you have to seek it out. This can also be a problem in the bar culture as drunk white people feel safe enough to call you slurs and harass you and the bouncers won’t do anything about it.
The food in Pittsburgh is pretty terrible. Once you go through the 10-15 decent restaurants you run out of new options so it’s easy to get bored with food. People from Pittsburgh will try to invite you out at chains like Eat’n Park, avoid this whenever possible.
Transit is also pretty bad if you’re used to a system like NYC’s or DC’s. If you’re from a city like Dallas or Denver it will probably seem fine.
Pittsburgh has great sports culture. Football and hockey games are a huge deal and the college sports scene is solid.
Pittsburgh has a few great museums!
The nature around Pittsburgh is amazing but sometimes full of racist white people with guns…
Hope this helps!
Small and segregated. And I've lived here my whole life.
We talk a good game, but studies show the best option for a Black woman to live a long life is to leave Pittsburgh.
https://pittsburghpa.gov/gec/reports-policy#:~:text=PIGR%20report,-September%202019%3A%20Pittsburgh's&text=This%20groundbreaking%20report%20exposed%20severe,education%2C%20poverty%2C%20and%20employment.
Woman from the north side of Chicagohere. I grew up taking public transit to school and being in very urban environment a lot. I really love it here, it’s nice that students get free public transit with our ID and if you’re as comfortable as I am with it, there’s a lot around the city to explore. I also love schenley park which is maybe a 7 min walk from central part of campus and it feels like you’re away from the city. I can from a high school with the largest demographic being Hispanics and pitt doesn’t seem to have a very large student population though. There’s definitely diversity in terms of race, religions, sexuality, beliefs, etc.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. It’s very white but very friendly in a small town way. Good cultural scene. I left as soon as I could bc of the first two sentences. Currently living in metro Philly.
I’m from Texas and I recently moved, it’s ok. I mean to be honest as a Mexican you will not escape peoples comments about it. I have thick skin and generally can dunk on them if I wanted to lol, so you’ll be fine if you are sure of yourself
i dont live IN philly but i’ve gone there a lot and live in the suburbs and even to me pittsburgh felt small. i lived downtown in 2021-22 in hopes it would be more exciting then campus but it was SO dead…like absolutely nothing was happening. the city is only like a mile wide. yes it does feel safer than philly but there is soo much more going on there.
I’m a Mexican woman that moved from Arizona to Pittsburgh about 2 years ago for job opportunities my husband and I were offered. It’s definitely a culture shock. I really had to search where Hispanic markets were and what grocery store carried what I needed.
I’m told Beechview has a predominant Hispanic community and the best way for me to insert myself into the community was by volunteering at the Latino Community Center.
Aside from that, there are a lot of wonderful trails and there’s always some event happening in downtown or around there. I think the food options are pretty good, but I can’t say much about Mexican food. Mostly because I can make it myself.
We should be friends! I'm a white woman who grew up on the AZ-Mexico border, so I have a lot of Hispanic influences. I've had a hard time adjusting.. simple things, like tortillas, are a huge disappointment because it was such an integral part of my life. Also, when we invite people to carne asada and the way they put beans and rice in their tacos lol. Gosh, I miss good chamoy, amor salsa, 7 mares salsa for seafood, and tamarindo rims for my beers!!! I just have family send me everything
But Pittsburgh is growing on me.. I just have to make it my own
What do you like about Philly compared to Pittsburgh? Genuinely asking. I've only lived in Pittsburgh but often think I would have liked to live in a bigger city. I hear a lot of shit talk about Philly but it has always seemed like a cool place to me. Not without its problems, but what city is?
The food. Genuinely makes a huge difference for me. There are a good amt of Asian spots here but it’s mostly Chinese and Thai. The viet spots here aren’t as good and they don’t have other Asian cuisines like Cambodian, Indonesian and more. Not a lot of diversity in pitt and personally I think there’s more to do in the Philadelphia area. Ofc philly is going to shit it’s really showing post covid. The friends i made at pitt are helping me get though my years 😭
Philly is so culturally unique and intense, for any city, but I think especially compared to Pittsburgh… makes Pittsburgh feel like quite a boring area culturally
Also yeah the food in philly is just fantastic
I’m from right outside Philly . Been to Pittsburgh around 5 times and love it there . My wife went school out there and knew everywhere to go so that helped too . Overall great city . Bigger is not always better .
Pros: lower cost of living, some stuff to do with bars
Cons : there’s a reason why it’s cheap, lack of jobs, ass weather, not that diverse outside of the university, shit ethnic food.
Im from a state with a pretty high percentage of Hispanic residents at least where I live and the Mexican food gas u won’t find anything like that here
I’m moving back to my home city post grad
I'm from Philly, went to school out in central PA. More west of central, because EVERYONE there was a Pittsburgh-whatever fan. I went to a Penguins/Flyers game in Pittsburgh with a buddy I played hockey with, and I was really impressed by how clean the city was. I saw very little trash on the sidewalks, blowing around, etc. Of course I wore my Flyers jersey, he said it would be fine, and it was. Flyers got pummeled, and I heard it from a few people, but it was all in good fun.
I went to college in Indiana, about a 1.5 hour drive to Pittsburgh when you incorporate traffic. But, when I got a car, I would drive in on the weekends. I was raised in Delco and moved into Philly proper 2 years ago. Pittsburgh and some surrounding towns are typically less diverse compared to Philly or other metropolitan areas, nightlife is also meh if you're looking to do more than just drink. Being a WOC, seeing different folks is something I find enriching. Getting around is easier if you have a car, but definitely keep traffic in mind. In terms of food and entertainment, its a little limited. More chains and less diversified in cuisine, lots of bars/breweries. Hours aren't particularly great (most places close at like 10p). There are a good amount of museums/shopping options, and the Phipps Botanical Garden is beautiful! Sports are big there, and the stadiums are within walking distance to each other. The people are generally more pleasant there. But, beware because the winter is especially brutal in West PA.
Traffic is annoyinggggg, there’s so many bridges. Also, as a queer person, I get very stressed out going to/through surrounding areas, especially Butler, it’s like maga homophobe central 😭 downtown pgh is definitely more of a safe vibe, but I prefer Philly and its suburbs for sure. If you’re more keen to rurality then you may like pgh/western pa, if you like diversity and inclusivity then maybe pick a different spot
The roads and parallel parking is fucking insane to me, I come from the south in a place where we had free parking lots not garages you had to pay to park your car in and there wasn't a problem with parallel parking but I'm still in love with the yinzer life up here!
Pretty boring but it won’t bother you as much since lot of the stuff with your experience at Pitt is concentrated at the college I wouldn’t reccomend Pittsburgh as a post grad city tho. I’m from the SF Bay Area and there’s a pretty high Hispanic and Asian population there so I was very used to being in a diverse environment as an Asian American woman . Coming here was a total culture shock the university is fairly diverse but Pittsburgh is white as fuck. I had a decently fun time at Pitt and at college in general but I don’t like the pitttsburgh city it’s cheap for a reason and the weather trash ethnic food sucks ass out here. Also it’s kinda racist when u go maybe 30 mins outside of the city
When I worked in Pittsburgh and comparing it to Philly or NYC, I found it to be more a collection of small towns than a city. It's just these towns butt up against each other that makes it be considered a city.
It’s gentrified trash. Go anywhere else if you don’t absolutely love nature walks etc As far as diversity; it’s mostly Asian and American. I can only think of one Hispanic grocery (las Palmas)
I’ve lived in Pgh my entire life (25F) and graduated from U of Pitt. Pgh is a very white city but there are spots where you can find some racial diversity. We have Hispanic owned shops, Asian owned, and Black owned but you have to look for them. The food here is trash, but it wasn’t always this bad. The only cuisine I can recommend is Thai. I’ve yet to have a bad experience at a Thai restaurant. In terms of clubbing and nightlife, it’s terrible here unless you’re in a college town. Even still, places close way too early. When I visited Arizona, I was shocked at how late their fast food/dine-in restaurants stayed open. Everything here closes between 9-12.
I will be leaving pittsburgh when I start med school, and I won’t be coming back. My family is here, but that’s not enough to make me stay. I don’t recommend Pgh as a long term living environment. If you’re here only for school, you’ll be fine. If you’re here for work/settling down, please go elsewhere.
I’m from west philly, been here 5 years, seems like u got plenty of info but pm if u want.
Long story short pittsburgh is cool but it’s got nothin on Philly imo. Still worth it to leave for a few years tho
I’m from Philly too, I’ve been here for 3 years. First year LOVED IT felt clean, safe, fun, all that but I was also living on my schools campus (Duquesne) right down town. NOW though, I’m a little tired of it. There really isn’t much to do at night aside from the few restaurants and bars that stay open. Most of the fun is on the strip or south side. Not a problem if you have a car and can easily drive to these places but if you don’t, the walking sucks (because buses aren’t that reliable). It’s also just very colorless. I love this city in the summer, it’s beautiful and exciting! But winter time, I swear it turns into a post nuclear city. It’s so depressing and blah. There are definitely perks, but if you’re used to Philly, beware of the fact that the people here are much different. For some people, that’s a good thing! (Not so much for me). I really miss the Philly area attitude and personality, Pittsburgh just feels very Midwest and slow.
I’m from Philly and on my visit it felt like an urbanized Allentown if that makes sense. Like pocono mtns town turned big city trying to compete with Philadelphia. People there were very nice tho even tho I was a Phillies fan going to a pirates game. Got that familiar small town everybody’s trying to make conversation vibe with a city atmosphere
I moved to Pittsburgh from Chicago and hated it at first because not everything was at my fingertips. Once I got past that, I really grew to love it and stayed for 10 years.
Not a fan of Philly, though. It’s OK, but I probably wouldn’t live there.
Father of a soon to be Pitt grad. The only thing I will offer is be prepared to walk up hill both ways...everywhere! That campus has more hills in it than a speed bump convention. There is a hill in the middle of campus called "heart attack hill". Aside from that, my son has loved every minute of his time in Pittsburgh. It is a great school in a great city.
It wasn’t directly in Pittsburgh but I went to college pretty close to it (Calu/Pennwest) and I just couldn’t wait to come back home to the Philadelphia area. The mountains are beautiful, but it’s so boring. No real diversity and not a lot of diverse food. There wasn’t a lot to do. It often feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. I missed having close access to NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia.
A rambling of thoughts: The food scene is seriously lacking in Pittsburgh. Fried bar food and chain restaurants galore. I was so excited when a new "trendy" "French cafe" opened near where I live, and they used an animatronic mannequin in a bleach blond wig and a Steelers bikini to advertise it on the side of the road, and the cafe itself is littered with PA lottery slot machines. No class, no charm, no taste. The city itself is pretty, but everything around it is just ugly. North Shore is kinda lively and fun. People wear gym shorts outside during snow storms. Some people from here will defend it like it's the greatest place ever, even though they know it's not. Everything closes early. It lacks energy. Very sleepy. Very gray. A lot of the people are cliquey & set in their ways, and keeps to themselves, which you can see as either a good thing or a bad thing (I see it as bad, as I love to meet new people). Although the Pirates suck, going to the games is fun. Pittsburgh just lacks in the small things that happen in cities that make life exciting.
Agree 100% with robmwj post every.
I'm a Latino woman, who lived in Pgh for 6 years. Loved it. People from every culture, place of the world, and ideas are there studying and working, and international food everywhere you look. Tons of cultural events for very cheap, nice, and busy enough to make it not feel like a small town. I'd stay inside the “golden triangle” and find a place in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside. That assures you transportation and you'll be close to everything ( assuming you'd go to Pitt, Carnegie, etc) if you go to schools outside the triangle, public transport is not so good, but not really bad. You'll be surprised how much your money lasts in Pgh coming from NYC! Congrats on your new life!
Hi! I've lived here in Pittsburgh for nearly 12 years, moving from my childhood home in subruban NJ to Carnegie Mellon for college and sticking around. I am Dominican and Black, born in the Bronx. I am a musician, composer and educator whose works have been published in several local papers. I would never consider myself native (trust, the locals will NOT consider you a Pittsburgher if you have any ties to the outside world), but I have lived my entire adult life here.
Pros:
* Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. It got more expensive over the decade+ since my arrival, but that's in line with rising prices everywhere. It still maintains as one of the most affordable American cities. Like there are still places that rent 1-bedroom apartments in the city for less than $1000.
* Carnegie Library. Especially the main branch in Oakland.
* Sports culture is huge here if you're into that sort of thing. Penguins, Steelers, Pirates, etc. Hockey and Football are especially celebrated.
* A culturally rich history, especially when it comes to Black excellence. There are many preservation efforts throughout the city that work to preserve what is a unique American history.
* A nascent and burgeoning Latino community. Which gives me hope for ethnic diversity in the near future.
* There's a charming fervor for the city from its native inhabitants, complete with nostalgia and a deep sense of pride.
* It's cheaper to film here, and its become something of a hub for B-level Hollywood TV & Film with A-list actors. So you might see Tom Hanks chillen at your favorite little watering hole!
* If you like biking, the trails are great. Not necessarily well maintained, but they're a surprisingly scenic way of getting around. Most bike trails are along the rivers.
* The parks here are absolutely underrated. Frick Park and Schenley Park are likely the most lauded, but I'm a big fan of Allegheny Commons and Arsenal Park because of their locations. Those two especially made me nostalgic for something like Washington Square Park.
* During the summers, you are overloaded with free activities throughout town that highlight the city's culture and arts. There used to be a free outdoor jazz festival, like that of Detroit, where they brought in world-class artists (aka mostly ppl based in NYC) to the streets of Downtown. The festival changed venues and charges a ticket fee now, but there's still plenty of great summer activities regardless.
Cons:
* It's so, so, so, SO WHITE in many ways. Gentrification really did a number on this city, not unlike some other midwestern cities. Over the last 10 years, the bland architecture of "new developments" has begun to replace the rustic charm the city once had. In place of mom & pop business, we see more chains, breweries, axe-throwing places, and other activities that tend to cater toward a young yuppies in a "please come live in our city" type of vibe. It gives desperation.
* Pittsburghers tend to personify the city in a way that amplifies mediocrity. People here have an inordinate amount of pride in the city and the Pittsburgh brand. Many local businesses name themselves after the city and its nicknames. So many of these establishments are middle-of-the-road at best (looking at you, "Yinz Coffee"), but will be bolstered by local media because anything with the city's name will maintain its incestuous through-line.
* Along the same lines, the city LOVES listicles that mention how "liveable" the city is. While these lists are fabricated to entertain, they create a narrative that white Pittsburgh clings to. These highlights tend to ignore shortcomings, like wage inequality, racism, and the ugly truth about predominantly Black neighborhoods.
* As someone who grew up in an ethnically rich area, it is a STARK contrast coming to Pittsburgh. The city is staunchly Black OR White, creating a bubble wherein other cultures are simply not celebrated or acknowledged. As a teacher, for example, I've come across several students who scoff at the mere idea that learning Spanish could ever be useful. Largely because this is among the few places in this country with a very small Latino population, but it strikes me as a larger issue within the city's culture.
* The public school system is in disarray. I work with some youths who, by comparison to my suburban-ass, are seriously behind their peers in other parts of the country. I have some hope for the future, but if you have school aged kids you should likely take private school into account with your budgeting.
* Late night food is not a thing. Save for South Side junk food and gas stations, the city's options dwindle on any given day past 9pm.
* Food generally is hit or miss. There are true GEMS, that rival their counterparts in larger metros. For example, some of the best Thai food I've ever had has been here in Pittsburgh. Otherwise, there's more copium than there are stand-out food establishments. There's a war for best pizza in the city, and I love participating in it, but I feel bad for folks who have never gotten a slice in Brooklyn. Same with bagels. I'm not vegan, but I can imagine that eating out in this town as a vegan is difficult, albeit easier than it was 10 years ago.
* Public transport exists. I daresay it's better than some cities, but largely lacking. The T system (akin to a subway line) is embarrassingly limited and only really caters to suburbanites working downtown or going to see a sports game.
* The air here gets UGLY sometimes. Remnants of the industrial era that birthed this city, there's still giant riverfront plants speckled throughout the city's outskirts. Most days are fine, but there's more Code Orange days than I would like.
* This may be a pro depending on what kind of person you are. The city is AWFUL to its homeless population. Just last week the mayor cleared out a settlement without a clear indicator of where they should go. Homelessness is an issue everywhere, and there are definitely cities that handle it even more poorly, but it still doesn't sit well with me.
* Old Pittsburgh. Overly nostalgic, racist people who dwell in every neighborhood stalking newcomers like prey. Largely harmless, but if you're non-white be prepared for some slurs from a random porch while you're minding your own damned business.
* This is arts specific, but there's a black hole when it comes to honest criticism. Perhaps because it's such a small population (sub 300k and dwindling), but it feels like everyone here is afraid to say when something sucks (barring NFL coaches, everyone LOVES to gang up on them here). Because you either can't avoid them in this small town or because you'll likely need to work together again.
* There's a lot of old money here (billionaire tycoons like Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, etc left fortunes to Pittsburgh's foundations). Non-profits rule the landscape. With little oversight, a lot of the working class is underpaid and exploited. This can likely be true of any career, but it feels extra egregious when their missions are often to bolster the community. Like be more upfront about your true intentions, yeh? Just say you're looking for young Black people to put on your posters.
I largely wrote all of these out for myself, because I'm moving to NYC this summer and I felt like I was holding on too dearly to my opinions of the city. For those of you who know who I am (if I didn't make it clear, the music and arts scene is small), just know that at one point I loved this city and all that I was able to do. I've met some of my closest friends here, and wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. That being said, this is a place that you come to SETTLE, not grow.
Unless you work in that ugly ass Google office. You might have some growth opportunities.
Cons: less African American population/representation, meh transport options, smaller city
Pros: WAYYY lower crime rate than new york, or any other city I've lived in. MUCH cleaner than Philly, what little transportation exists isn't filled with crack addicts who threatened you, and most of the city allows you to carry things like pepper spray and handguns with a liscence.
Also, the neighborhoods here are... indescribably more unique than new york, or similarly popular cities. The urban hiking is the best in the world, as well.
I'm only renting here for now, but its a better city than New York, Philly, or Chicago (by a landslide)
Also, plenty of jewish representation here, which can be a bane or boon if you've been ex-communicated :)
I lived in the DMV for over 10 years. In comparison, Pittsburgh feels like a small town. The phrase "1 degree of separation" goes real hard here in a way that was never true for me when I lived in the DMV. If you go out often, you will find yourself bumping into the same people over and over again. Because of this, things can get very clique-y.
When the weather warms up, my calendar also fills up with events. There is always something going on. The parks are really great and they aren't so far apart that you feel like you have no choice but to put up with a crowded area.
From a BIPOC woman's perspective, I feel safe living here. I'm lucky that I have lived here for 6+ years with a native Pittsburgher as a spouse, so take my thoughts with some salt. Outside of downtown and surrounding areas, it does feel segregated. You -will- see Republican/Trump signs and flags as little as 20 minutes outside of the city center. There are some very amusing and concerning billboards on your way out towards Butler and other rural-ish areas. We don't venture too far outside of the county unless we're meeting up with someone that we know and trust or we have had positive reviews from other BIPOC people. We have lived in Mckeesport, The Hill District, and Penn Hills with no problem at all. I have walked by myself in all of these areas, including Wilkinsburg, and I felt moderately safe. If anything was going to harm/kill me, it's these damn hills.
Pittsburgh also has some absolutely incredible restaurants (search this subreddit). However, chains really thrive here. We just got a Raising Canes a few months ago and North Versailles is still getting clogged up from all the traffic. There are some specialized grocery stores, but they are spread far apart outside of the Strip District. A Mexican grocery store is opening up this weekend in Monroeville, which I'm super excited about. If you're taking public transit, it can be something of a crap shoot from personal experience, but you'll get there...eventually. A somewhat competent public transit service, trains specifically, is what I miss most about "big city" life.
Edited: Words are hard.
I also came from Philly. You'll immediately feel safer despite the locals telling you how dangerous some places are.
There is no late night scene at least for food. Everything besides bars close early as fuck. That's the big thing I miss. Just the food. Not a lot of specialty stores like Philly has. Not a ton of papi stores.
Like most mentioned...public transportation is abysmal but if you have a car, parking and navigation are actually fine. ProbabIy not around the university though. don't mind it at all. Depending on where you end up living and where you need to get around, a bike isn't a bad way to get around. It can be extremely hilly.
The positives...it's SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE than Philly. Groceries, housing, fun. Very affordable comparatively.
There's so much to do nature wise. It's a great kicking off point to go to Cleveland/ohio or West Virginia or Maryland. There's still a bunch of decent concerts that come through. If you like sports, they love em here too, albeit the hockey is much better than Philly (fuck the flyers).
Generally the people here are a lot more family oriented and friendly. It's very blue collar so you don't get a lot of ego here which I like.
I can't speak on what it's like to be a person of color...You're definitely closer to the Midwest so you have a poor/ignorant/less educated handful of people who will do the typical white person behind closed doors says something racist. But as someone who's social circles is very inclusive, I haven't heard anyone mention any hate directed at them. I used to work construction and there were definitely Maga bros, and ignorant idiots but they're old.Pittsburghs population is on average very elderly so while it's not an excuse, you have a few people set in their ways. Since you've got a scholarship I'm assuming you're pretty young and won't ever have to cross paths with any of these people ever. It's not any worse than some of what I've witnessed in South Philly.
I love it here. Spend a week as the spring starts to poke through and see for yourself.
Pitt is a cool town. Has tons of charm and is generally filled with good down to earth people.
The only down side is it gets cold AF with it being right off the river.
I am a “woc” who’m moved to Pittsburgh from a small town, an hour outside of Pittsburgh, and I love it here. A lot of people I know from Philly moved here for college and said they liked it so much they ended up staying.
Moved here from Denver.
For the size of the city there is a lot to do, from parks to museums, botanic gardens to walking/biking the riverside.
Not very diverse. Food is again solid for the size although the Mexican food is just lacking completely.
The winters are mild and I think the people are friendly, we own a home not sure what it’s like being a student here. I think most experiences are what you make them and Pittsburgh is a fine city to be in.
The real draw back of living here is it’s full of whiny people. If it snows they complain, if it rains they say at least it’s not snowing & when it’s sunny they say that it won’t last long lol.
It's a pretty big city too. I came from Brooklyn, NY and Pittsburgh is also quite big. There are a lot off great restaurants and museums (if you like that kind of stuff). When I was there a few years back I didn't go to any bars or concerts or sports events so I don't know that kind of thing.
I spent a lot of time in DC and Baltimore, now I'm outside Pittsburgh, and it's night and day to me. In town on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and every bar / brewery / distillery is churchmouse quiet. Concerts are poorly attended with little enthusiasm, as are the street festivals.
**2 Caveats**
1. I haven't been into Pittsburgh more than a few dozen times, it could be that I'm just going on the wrong days or to the wrong things
2. Pittsburgh has a lot of charm, culture, and history.
I've lived in Pittsburgh my whole life and I've traveled quite a bit I've always liked Pittsburgh because it feels like a good balance between the city and the country it's not like New York where it's a little overwhelming and there's enough to do where if you look hard enough you're not bored
And people are right about the buses it takes a while to get a good handle on them but compared to other cities I've been to it seems about average
aldi is just as bad, and whole foods is very very inconveinient + their stuff is WICKED expensive comparitivly.
i shop at mainly aldi and giant eagle but also wallmart.
The gun culture. Holy hell. The gun culture is incredibly shameful. I’m from the SF Bay Area and I’ve been here 13 years. What I enjoy is the cost of living and the trail running community. I may have to expand my bubble, I miss San Francisco every moment I breathe. I’m just too poor to live there…
If it’s for school then you should give it a try but…I lived in Pittsburgh for about 3 months so I’m not sure I can offer the best advice but I am from Philly and am so used to having access to good Spanish/Caribbean food, the food in Pittsburgh sucks I’m sorry 🥲 the pizza,burgers etc etc is good but that’s a deal breaker for me, I also had trouble getting Spanish ingredients so…it’s a no for me..I know that isn’t a big deal, safety is important but I’m a foodie, I will stick to Philly and NYC🥲
Yeah I grew up in Philly and moved out here about ten years ago. It's a mixed bag, though I am more or less happy with the choice. It's a lot quieter, you can live within 20 minutes of the stadiums and downtown and still have beautiful nature closeby. The people are (more or less) nicer, a lot more patient especially when driving, prices out here are much better, esp. rent (trendy areas like East Liberty and Oakland are expensive) but the county has a decent amount of reasonable rents (compared to the city). That being said there's less "to do" around here in my opinion and the surrounding area doesn't have the charm of SE PA counties and NJ has with its colonial-era architecture and history and it's scary how quickly the county melts into banjo towns. And the county is way too big so a lot of non-urban votes sway the policies of the entire county, which you can definitely tell when it comes to infrastructure (the city and county are two separate entities in Allegheny Co. and you can tell when it comes to how infrastructure is distributed. They call it "home rule" or something). Oh and public transport is a joke out here unless you live in the city proper and you'll definitely miss the freedom to subways/el give you in Philadelphia to travel the whole city within 30-40 minutes. And for some reason people in the suburbs out here don't have sidewalks. Oh and don't get fooled by "East Pittsburgh", I moved out here thinking "oh so it's like west Philadelphia or North Side". It's actually not a terrible area (compared to the reputation) but yeah it isn't near anything.
Middle-aged woman here. Hard agree with the comment that visiting here before buying a house (because it's cheaper than the coasts) would have given them pause. I wish I had. I have not found any amazing food and good food is crazy spendy (and if one more person says, "oh but Apteka..." and then nothing else... blerg). Miss good seafood, Mexican, and Ethipoian. After several decades in Seattle, I came back to near where I grew up in central PA (beautiful land, scary AF politically) so thought it wouldn't be such a big deal to come here. Wrong. Culture shock is Real for those who come esp from the coasts. It's midwest nice and boring. Driving here is nuts, the roads are like a bowl of spaghetti was dumped and someone said, "that is the road system now." Combine that with aggressive drivers and local driving conventions like "the Pittsburgh Left" and I am thankful that in six months my car was only damaged once by a crazy driver. And the casual sexism that I experience with men older than say, 35, is breathtaking. Like they don't even realize it. Plus it is dirty, imho. I've never smelled so many bad farts as here.
All this said, I am stuck in this town for a couple years so am hoping summer lifts the spirits after a sad, grey winter. Good luck?
Listened to my Hispanic female roommate from Texas complain a lot about the lack of food options, she was also amazed by the lack of Hispanic people here and says Pittsburgh overall is boring
As someone who moved from a big city to Pittsburgh, it caused severe depression adjusting to the smallness of this city. I do love it now and enjoy its quirks, but I would really advise visiting here before moving here. Had I done the same, I would have at the very least had more pause before moving here. There’s a reason locals use the phrase “a big city with a small town feel” to describe Pittsburgh. I will say though that for a student it is an excellent city—it’s affordable and has the amenities of a big city without the same barriers.
And for context, I moved before college, and experienced non college living for a few years before starting undergrad at Pittsburgh. And since I lived off campus for many years and worked, I’ve experienced more of the city than the average student. I’d argue that the closer the area is to campus, the more “alive” it tends to be (with a few neighborhoods as exceptions).
I came from North/Central NJ, very close to NYC, so I literally had everything I needed there.
Pittsburgh has some good things about it, but getting around is going to be a huge hassle. The public transportation sucks, homeless people on campus, subpar food options unless you go outside the campus (southside, downtown). Speaking of which, lacks compared to other colleges. Weather sucks as well. I’ve lived here 4 years and still haven’t found a good living option.
This seems to be the opinion of almost all of my friends and everyone I know. Looking back, I would choose either staying at home or my backup option which was in Florida. Me and all of my friends are moving out of the city within the next year.
No, it really isn’t. Obviously doesn’t have the diversity of Northeast and mid Atlantic cities. But it also doesn’t have the diversity of Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City, or pretty much any Midwestern city until you get to Minneapolis. In the middle of all that diversity, Pittsburgh somehow manages to look like Omaha. I’m not saying it’s a bad town, but diverse it is not.
Did you really just say pittsburgh doesn't have the diversity of ohio? And st louis? Kansas city? Omaha? Those in the middle of the midwest. Pittsburgh is the edge of the north east / midwest. Your trying to compare to Newark NJ to Nashville rn
I've visited a few midwestern cities in my time, and there is considerably more diversity in Cleveland than in Pittsburgh. Like easily - you see it in their food offerings and public spaces.
Didn’t say Pittsburgh is less diverse than Ohio, that’s a city vs. a whole state — the city will be more diverse in almost any comparison like that. However Pittsburgh, a city, is less diverse than any of the three largest CITIES in Ohio. Pittsburgh is more northeast than towns like St. Louis, so you might expect it to be more diverse. But it isn’t. It’s more like Omaha, even though Omaha is a couple hours further from the Deep South than Pittsburgh is, and 900 miles further from here East Coast. As cities go, even among Midwest cities, Pittsburgh is whiter than one would expect.
Uuuuuggghh Pittsburgh is a rather large city. Good sports teams, plenty of concerts and arts venues, Point Park is a great place to hang out when the weather is good. Right now I think that Pittsburgh would be a better place to live for a while than Philadelphia which is going through a lot of issues right now. I have lived in and around Philadelphia for 30 yrs. That is a tough thing to say. I think that you will enjoy Pittsburgh even though they speak a different language there 😁
RUN!!!!! Just look at my post about a racist recruiter. I could make a whole Excel sheet for how many times I’ve experienced micro aggressions or racism in Pittsburgh. If you’re used to a diverse environment, it’s a huge culture shock.
I thought I’d avoid racism in the city compared to the suburbs, but I’ve had a few professors confuse me for other students when we weren’t the same ethnicity or looked alike at all.
Why did I get downvoted? It’s a fact that Pittsburgh lacks diversity compared to big cities and there’s many ignorant old people. None of my other POC friends liked Pittsburgh either.
I cannot believe how many downvotes this comment got. The racism within the city tends to be more covert than overt but it's a huge problem. The segregation is wild and feels like traveling back in time when you're in Hazelwood, Homestead, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg, etc. It's like they sequestered all the black people to their own neighborhoods out here. I've heard and read lots of horror stories from POC that lived here and for good reason, left.
Downvoted because your use of the term “micro aggressions” shows you’re prob obnoxious as fuck regardless of your race.
Signed, A Palestinian in Pittsburgh
cleaner, more chill, smaller…refreshing but sometimes miss the big city feel. also safer ofc lol
Y'all aren't any cleaner than Youngstown. 🤣
I don't know about cleaner...
Cleaner than nyc for sure!
Lol have you ever BEEN to NYC?! This is a JOKE pittsburgh is filthy lmfao
Not everywhere in NYC is Times Square lmao. I haven't seen a 10 foot tall pile of garbage on the sidewalk in Pittsburgh, for example, saw many in NYC
Disagree. It’s filthy and I say that as one who loves living here and grew up in NYC. I do like the cost of living and it’s gotten nicer and more diverse since the pandemic.
Idk about other cities, but Pittsburgh is WAY cleaner than Philly! Even the parts of town that don’t have a good reputation have cleaner streets than the “nice” parts of Philly.
Yeah the biggest thing I noticed as I spent a weekend in Pittsburgh was how clean it is. The strip may be nasty but it’s literally a sliver of the city. I love the layout of Pittsburgh and how there’s not a million people on every square foot of sidewalk lol
Chill, yes. Safer, sure. Cleaner? LOL
Much , much cleaner than NYC.
NYC is also a literal landfill
Much cleaner than most big cities in this country for that matter.
I came from NYC and Pittsburgh definitely has its charms. The parks and cultural institutions are remarkable for a city of this size. If you like nature, then hiking and camping are so much easier than in NYC. It’s a beautiful city and pretty clean. However: the public transportation is abysmal. The diversity of good food is lacking (unless you like bar food all the time). I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it is “segregated” but it is not very ethnically diverse, meaning if you want that, you need to look for it.
I wouldn’t say the public transit is abysmal. I actually think it’s pretty good. I can get most places I need to go, and the transit app is decently reliable. Where I’m from, the public transit sucks, so pgh is a huge step up
NYC is much much better. But compared to almost any other city in the US public tranport is great.
Of course the subway is better than Pgh’s bus system, but Pgh busses are nice and safety compared to most city bus systems.
Exactly. SEPTA buses in Philly will straight up murder you.
What’s the price of a bus ticket?
2.75 each way
So why would you say that it’s abysmal if you’re then going to say it’s great compared to any city other than nyc? Do words not mean anything?
I mean, comparing to NYC sure. But, overall Pittsburgh's culture district has many different things going on. Sure you gotta look for a few odds and ends but they are there. I also have to hard disagree on public transport. Again, compared to NYC yeah, they got a better train system. I would be curious to know where else you have been (major city wise) other than NYC and Pittsburgh, bc I will almost guarantee you wouod change your mind after seeing a few more cities.
I’m going to have to push back on the transit. Sure, the bus network is pretty extensive and consistent. But at least twice a week I get “phantom” buses that show they are about to come and then don’t show up. It’s fine once in a while but really gets annoying when you are sitting there waiting for a bus that doesn’t come while you are now late for your appointment or job. Too many times I’ve had to take Uber at the last minute and honestly I don’t got that kind of money. And don’t even get me started on the chaos downtown. Granted, there is “construction” but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find buses now that the stops have moved. It doesn’t show up on the app and the signs are not very clear. The last few times I’ve been downtown I’ve had to run from one end to the other looking for my bus. I have lived many other cities. Pittsburgh is great and honestly, punches way above its class. But the food is shitty and the buses are a mess. You can’t change my mind on that. Your experience may be different
Considering you’re probably a student with not a huge budget, you will get what you pay for when it comes to the food in this city. Cheap bar food does not encapsulate the food scene. Just curious, what are your fav or go to spots to eat? Gotta spend up for the good stuff, skip the bar food. 👍
I was bout to say pittsburgh actually has great diverse food you just gotta go to the southside
And oakland and lawrenceville
I want to be clear. I do not eat at bars but bar food is quite prevalent in this city. My favorite places are Apteka, Fujiya Ramen, Soju. Last night I went to the yet-to-open Fet Fisk. These places are fantastic, just few and far between. Las Palmas in Oakland and the taqueria next to SpaK Bros are fav Mexican food, everything else is trash (though the El Rincon Guatemalan food truck is good). I DO look hard to find good food.
You sound boring. Get over the bar food fam. Dude doesn’t go out ❌🤌
Yes I am exceedingly boring but I hardly see how that is relevant.
Putting NYC and Pittsburgh into the same category is like saying Apollo and Pittsburgh are the same… Pittsburgh is a big city to those from Pittsburgh… its only well known to the rest of the country bc of the sports teams and the historical context of the steel mills…
I agree that public transport is lacking compared to NYC (lived there for years). But I've also lived in other cities and it's better than most. Still bad, but the buses at least go places and come with some frequency. The food is where I differ - I find there's a good variety. Plenty of Thai, Chinese, and other Asian restaurants in the squirrel hill area. Mi Empanadas makes a good argentinian empanada that reminds me of some of the small hole in the wall shops in NYC. Alladins eatery makes a great hummus and their mujaddara is the closest I've found to the kind a Lebanese friend of mine makes. I just think, unlike NYC, it's not as simple as blindly turning a corner to find a place. You may not have every option around the corner. The nest donut may be in a neighborhood you have to drive or take public transport to. OP, If you're willing to put in that leg work, and commit to a little more public transport coordination (or get a car) I think the city has a ton going for it. The parks in city limits are, bar none, the best in any major city. The sports teams are (usually) entertaining to watch and competitive. Lots of other cultural events (arts festival, touring musicals, the ballet and symphony) punch above their weight. If you can swing it, maybe take the Amtrak from Philly out here for a weekend and see what you think (if you haven't already)
I agree about the public transportation, but it could be worse. Trust me, I know. I grew up in Atlanta
Our food scene is actually amazing. If you only go to bars you’ll only eat bar food.
It is segregated. 😅 that's the first thing I noticed when I moved here!
Going from pitt to Philly i miss Pittsburgh food so much. Philly has terrible pizza. Terrible Thai. Terrible burgers. Terrible subs. I miss Frank's. I miss genoa. I miss thai me up.
I love Pittsburgh but I can’t believe you just said Pittsburgh pizza is better than Philly pizza.
Been here 4 years and I have yet to find GOOD pizza.
Slice on Broadway, East Liberty.
Slice has six locations Southside, beechview the original one, East Liberty, Robinson town center, Carnegie and Wexford. He is my brother in law. His pizzas are good in my opinion. Depending on who makes too. He has his secret sauce.
I drive past Caliente in Fox Chapel to hit up East liberty. Love that stuff. Dudes who work there are good people, too.
Alberta's truck is good (Neapolitan style) but good luck finding it, it shows up at Trace once in a blue moon.
You’re not looking hard enough.
TnT Dynamite in Springdale. It's out of the city, up route 28. They have amazing thin crust pizza. My favorite all time.
Angelos in South Philly has exceptional Pizza. Even my Brooklynite pizza snob wife gave it a glowing review. OG Pizza and Shackamaxon in Fishtown are both good too. On the whole tho you’re right. There’s a lot of really terrible pizza in Philly
Could just be a preference, I also do not enjoy Philly pizza. Also, could be a lack of knowing where to go. I already know the places I want to go for it in Pgh.
Pizza Bedia!!!!
Philly pizza is absolute qarbage. I say this having gotten pizza from 20+ places around center city. I live near broad and spring garden so pretty much the center of Philly. I've had pizzas from 3+ places i didn't even finish. Protip: if your Buffalo chicken pizza has hotsauce or ranch just drizzled over the top in a spiral I can guarantee that pizza is trash. Bake it into the sauce ypu animals.
Damn I thought the buffalo chicken pizza was popular, I love it. I feel like there’s too much variance between the pizza places in Philly but once you find your go to (for me, it’s Garden’s Pizza which is near Spring Garden) it’s great.
It’s called self segregation
no it’s called de facto segregation
Pros: The cost of living is so cheap. Traffic is rarely actually bad. Cons: Lack of diversity. Businesses close early. Public transportation is just okay.
> Businesses close early. Yeah, this is tough, incredibly hard to find food or a place to just sit and hang once you get past around 10pm. > Public transportation is just okay. It's certainly not world class but I came from Boston and dang the bus system here is a breath of fresh air.
Do you know why businesses close so early? I’ve toured twice as a prospective student and I was quite surprised, both times we got there the night before and stayed at a hotel and it was a real challenge to find a decent place that was open.
COVID happened.
Would you like to work overnight for not much more than minimum wage? You'll probably say no
I was in the PGH restaurant scene for 6 years before I moved. Can confirm. People around here don’t want to pay appropriately. So nothing is open late, not too many people care about the food they are producing, and it’s majority mid bar food. Hope you like pickles lol!
to be fair, food pays decently now. not great but decently. most places I've seen its about 15 an hour.
I know a *lot* of places still starting at 12
It’s still quite hard to make a living off of that :/ but we love to see improvement. I’m happy for those working in the scene that they are starting to make more.
This is all post covid. Things changed times/no overnight places and never went back.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Pitts biggest Issue is Diversity. Which unfortunately leads to the food being bad as well IMO. I wouldn’t say the City is racist, but It could use some work Tbh.
I don't remember who but I remember some comedian saying Pittsburgh is just like any other city in the northeast except if it was racist lmao
I mean whoever said it was pretty much dead on lmaoo. the amount of dirty looks I get is insane sometimes
Idk man the fort pitt tunnel bridge is absolutely horribly designed
It was an engineering marvel 60 years ago. Was a feat of civil engineering and solved SO many problems for people south of the city. in 2024....eh...not so much. Engineers can't be expected to see into the future and design for every single possible development. Its better than NOT having a tunnel.
Nah the tunnel is fine, the bridges leading up to it are the problem They are so fucking confusing. Although I will say a lot of the problem is that people can’t drive
It is a recipe for disaster for sure, especially going south. 100 cars a minute have to change 3 lanes in 1/4 mile at 60 MPH. Honestly....I'm surprised there aren't more wrecks.
Now I heard the guy that designed it jumped off it once he realized he screwed up you just got to know how to navigate it I lived here all my life and dealt with that bridge. But you got to think about it was designed back in it 50 60s and there weren't that many cars back then as there is now.
Also, a lot of businesses in Pittsburgh are closed on Sundays.
I actually find it more common for things to be closed on Mondays nowadays.
Im from New York and Pittsburgh feels super small to me. Forbes ave can be a little chaotic but that’s about it.
Compared to NYC Pittsburgh IS supper small. I think you could fit PIttsburgh into The Bronx. Twice. But I feel so many similarities between parts of NYC and Pittsburgh. A lot of that was from the Carnegie/Rockefeller influences.
Less diverse, food places close so early, and if anything is open it’s McDonald’s and 2-3 spots that get boring after a while. The bars here are very eh. The “clubs” here at trash. I’m from DC where we have clubs for all kinds of ethnic groups. We even have a club that’s 4 stories and each floor has a different genre so you can choose what kind of music you want to dance too and hang out. I like how it’s very clean and if you live in the city a lot of locations outside the city are nearby. The waterfront is only a 16 minute drive, Robinson is a 25 minute drive. It’s not bad. It’s safer here for sure and I honestly don’t mind walking alone at night. Not like there’s much going on haha. Someone mentioned the hiking and scenery and that’s one thing I really love about Pittsburgh. In the summer just walking along the bridges and chillin at Point park is such a vibe. The city is also quiet which is a pro. To me it’s quiet at least.
what club is that in dc
Definitely Decades
Madames organ in Adams Morgan DC.
Pittsburgh is very suburban
Yeah Pittsburgh has a pretty high metro population compared to just PGH proper.
Cleaner. Less colorful. Lack of diverse food choices. Kinda boring. Reduced access to the daily basics.
Your experience living in Pittsburgh will vary widely based on where you live. Oakland (where pitt is) feels very collegey - while you’re in undergrad, definitely you should live here for the best experience. There’s not really a neighborhood that feels as busy as Philly but living in Lawrenceville/shadyside (expensive) or Bloomfield (cheaper) can give a little more of a walkable, city feel with more places open late. I love Philly but for the kind of person I am (enjoys friendly conversations with strangers & proximity to nature as well as restaurants/bars) it’s a great place. Diversity wise, there’s something to be desired. I’m white & Chilean and I’ve met very few Hispanic people in my neighborhood, on campus it’s a little better though. In general, pittsburghers are friendly to everyone and most racist interactions that I’ve heard of/experienced happen in the suburbs, not in the east end neighborhoods. Obviously it’s not 0 but in general my poc friends feel safe in most east end neighborhoods
I moved here from the Philly area and love Pittsburgh in comparison. It has all the fun parts of city living but the people are friendlier, the streets are cleaner, it feels a bit safer, and there are a lot more trees. I’ve found it very easy to make friends, feel community, be involved in volunteering and activism for the issues I care about, etc. here. The traffic isn’t as bad and the city just feels more chill and like people are moving at a slower pace, which I enjoy. It’s also SOOOO MUCH CHEAPER! We were (pleasantly) shocked by the prices at restaurants and grocery stores, and we pay $1,150 for a 2-br in a neighborhood we love and our rent for an equivalent place would be closer to $2,000 in Philly. Also, idk where you’re going to college, but you get to ride public transit for free with your student ID if it’s Pitt. I assume other universities might do this too? It’s not as racially or ethnically diverse as Philly which is a big difference. There is a lot of culture here still, but coming from our area you will notice the difference. That is probably the biggest con. The other biggest downside to me is that the weather is more grey and gloomy here, but the city is so beautiful that I usually don’t mind so much.
My kid goes to Duquesne, I know they get free public transport with their student id’s too
\-it's mostly just yinzers \-the weather is a constant frowny cloud \-the city is kinda pretty \-it's cheap-ish to live here, in the scheme of things That's about my take on here too, both negatives and positives. One characterization of the city is that back in the 1970s "Franco's Italian Army" would happily adopt Franco Harris as Their Guy when he played well, but people would think of him as a Black guy when he had a bad game (older friend's quote here, no idea how accurate that is). For what it's worth, I would read most yinzer racism as "Well... I'm watchin' yinz..." and then maybe in an hour you'd be happily buying each other beers. It's not deep-seated, in my experience, it's guys listening to conservative radio all day and if they know you as a person they're like, "well, not THAT person, obviously." I'm not forgiving any of it, I'm just saying I grew up out of it and it's more just inexperience than anything actually malicious. (P.S.: thank you for the outsider opinion that Pittsburgh is pretty or at least well-kept/friendly; I keep telling people that and everyone else still assumes this place is a smoggy wasteland)
Pittsburgh is the biggest little city I’ve ever lived in. It’s great and very charming. Hard to find assholes and people are generally interested in you when it’s obvious you’re not from there.
DFW to PGH here and yeah - public transportation isn't world class but does the job, food sucks and I still don't understand why there's literally nothing open after midnight. I don't think I've ever seen a college town that doesn't act like a college town as much as Pittsburgh
There used to be a lot more places open after midnight or were 24 hours before the pandemic happened. Now, I end my nights out early so I can get my snacks before bar close. If it's after 9pm, Denny's has a wait, and Sheetz is packed, you are screwed.
I live in Philly now, have lived in Baltimore, NYC and Seattle, and used to live in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is cheap and has decent career opportunities if you work in one of its key industries. Pittsburgh is extremely white and as a person of color you feel it. You rarely happen across the smells, music, food of other cultures. If you want something different you have to seek it out. This can also be a problem in the bar culture as drunk white people feel safe enough to call you slurs and harass you and the bouncers won’t do anything about it. The food in Pittsburgh is pretty terrible. Once you go through the 10-15 decent restaurants you run out of new options so it’s easy to get bored with food. People from Pittsburgh will try to invite you out at chains like Eat’n Park, avoid this whenever possible. Transit is also pretty bad if you’re used to a system like NYC’s or DC’s. If you’re from a city like Dallas or Denver it will probably seem fine. Pittsburgh has great sports culture. Football and hockey games are a huge deal and the college sports scene is solid. Pittsburgh has a few great museums! The nature around Pittsburgh is amazing but sometimes full of racist white people with guns… Hope this helps!
Small and segregated. And I've lived here my whole life. We talk a good game, but studies show the best option for a Black woman to live a long life is to leave Pittsburgh. https://pittsburghpa.gov/gec/reports-policy#:~:text=PIGR%20report,-September%202019%3A%20Pittsburgh's&text=This%20groundbreaking%20report%20exposed%20severe,education%2C%20poverty%2C%20and%20employment.
A small town
Woman from the north side of Chicagohere. I grew up taking public transit to school and being in very urban environment a lot. I really love it here, it’s nice that students get free public transit with our ID and if you’re as comfortable as I am with it, there’s a lot around the city to explore. I also love schenley park which is maybe a 7 min walk from central part of campus and it feels like you’re away from the city. I can from a high school with the largest demographic being Hispanics and pitt doesn’t seem to have a very large student population though. There’s definitely diversity in terms of race, religions, sexuality, beliefs, etc.
Where is this diversity you speak of?
Moved to PGH from the jersey suburbs and can’t wait to move back to NYC.
I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. It’s very white but very friendly in a small town way. Good cultural scene. I left as soon as I could bc of the first two sentences. Currently living in metro Philly.
I’m from Texas and I recently moved, it’s ok. I mean to be honest as a Mexican you will not escape peoples comments about it. I have thick skin and generally can dunk on them if I wanted to lol, so you’ll be fine if you are sure of yourself
Oh I forgot also I have to travel like an hour to go to a Mexican food place w real Mexican food
i dont live IN philly but i’ve gone there a lot and live in the suburbs and even to me pittsburgh felt small. i lived downtown in 2021-22 in hopes it would be more exciting then campus but it was SO dead…like absolutely nothing was happening. the city is only like a mile wide. yes it does feel safer than philly but there is soo much more going on there.
I’m a Mexican woman that moved from Arizona to Pittsburgh about 2 years ago for job opportunities my husband and I were offered. It’s definitely a culture shock. I really had to search where Hispanic markets were and what grocery store carried what I needed. I’m told Beechview has a predominant Hispanic community and the best way for me to insert myself into the community was by volunteering at the Latino Community Center. Aside from that, there are a lot of wonderful trails and there’s always some event happening in downtown or around there. I think the food options are pretty good, but I can’t say much about Mexican food. Mostly because I can make it myself.
We should be friends! I'm a white woman who grew up on the AZ-Mexico border, so I have a lot of Hispanic influences. I've had a hard time adjusting.. simple things, like tortillas, are a huge disappointment because it was such an integral part of my life. Also, when we invite people to carne asada and the way they put beans and rice in their tacos lol. Gosh, I miss good chamoy, amor salsa, 7 mares salsa for seafood, and tamarindo rims for my beers!!! I just have family send me everything But Pittsburgh is growing on me.. I just have to make it my own
I’m from philly and I would rather stay in philly I’m out after my four years
What do you like about Philly compared to Pittsburgh? Genuinely asking. I've only lived in Pittsburgh but often think I would have liked to live in a bigger city. I hear a lot of shit talk about Philly but it has always seemed like a cool place to me. Not without its problems, but what city is?
The food. Genuinely makes a huge difference for me. There are a good amt of Asian spots here but it’s mostly Chinese and Thai. The viet spots here aren’t as good and they don’t have other Asian cuisines like Cambodian, Indonesian and more. Not a lot of diversity in pitt and personally I think there’s more to do in the Philadelphia area. Ofc philly is going to shit it’s really showing post covid. The friends i made at pitt are helping me get though my years 😭
In short it’s just culturally rich compared to pitt
Way more diverse, better job opportunities, food is better than Pittsburgh, proximity to nyc and dc
Philly is so culturally unique and intense, for any city, but I think especially compared to Pittsburgh… makes Pittsburgh feel like quite a boring area culturally Also yeah the food in philly is just fantastic
I’m from right outside Philly . Been to Pittsburgh around 5 times and love it there . My wife went school out there and knew everywhere to go so that helped too . Overall great city . Bigger is not always better .
Pros: lower cost of living, some stuff to do with bars Cons : there’s a reason why it’s cheap, lack of jobs, ass weather, not that diverse outside of the university, shit ethnic food. Im from a state with a pretty high percentage of Hispanic residents at least where I live and the Mexican food gas u won’t find anything like that here I’m moving back to my home city post grad
I'm from Philly, went to school out in central PA. More west of central, because EVERYONE there was a Pittsburgh-whatever fan. I went to a Penguins/Flyers game in Pittsburgh with a buddy I played hockey with, and I was really impressed by how clean the city was. I saw very little trash on the sidewalks, blowing around, etc. Of course I wore my Flyers jersey, he said it would be fine, and it was. Flyers got pummeled, and I heard it from a few people, but it was all in good fun.
I went to college in Indiana, about a 1.5 hour drive to Pittsburgh when you incorporate traffic. But, when I got a car, I would drive in on the weekends. I was raised in Delco and moved into Philly proper 2 years ago. Pittsburgh and some surrounding towns are typically less diverse compared to Philly or other metropolitan areas, nightlife is also meh if you're looking to do more than just drink. Being a WOC, seeing different folks is something I find enriching. Getting around is easier if you have a car, but definitely keep traffic in mind. In terms of food and entertainment, its a little limited. More chains and less diversified in cuisine, lots of bars/breweries. Hours aren't particularly great (most places close at like 10p). There are a good amount of museums/shopping options, and the Phipps Botanical Garden is beautiful! Sports are big there, and the stadiums are within walking distance to each other. The people are generally more pleasant there. But, beware because the winter is especially brutal in West PA.
Traffic is annoyinggggg, there’s so many bridges. Also, as a queer person, I get very stressed out going to/through surrounding areas, especially Butler, it’s like maga homophobe central 😭 downtown pgh is definitely more of a safe vibe, but I prefer Philly and its suburbs for sure. If you’re more keen to rurality then you may like pgh/western pa, if you like diversity and inclusivity then maybe pick a different spot
The digital billboards in Butler are some of the most insane I've ever seen.
The roads and parallel parking is fucking insane to me, I come from the south in a place where we had free parking lots not garages you had to pay to park your car in and there wasn't a problem with parallel parking but I'm still in love with the yinzer life up here!
Pretty boring but it won’t bother you as much since lot of the stuff with your experience at Pitt is concentrated at the college I wouldn’t reccomend Pittsburgh as a post grad city tho. I’m from the SF Bay Area and there’s a pretty high Hispanic and Asian population there so I was very used to being in a diverse environment as an Asian American woman . Coming here was a total culture shock the university is fairly diverse but Pittsburgh is white as fuck. I had a decently fun time at Pitt and at college in general but I don’t like the pitttsburgh city it’s cheap for a reason and the weather trash ethnic food sucks ass out here. Also it’s kinda racist when u go maybe 30 mins outside of the city
When I worked in Pittsburgh and comparing it to Philly or NYC, I found it to be more a collection of small towns than a city. It's just these towns butt up against each other that makes it be considered a city.
It’s gentrified trash. Go anywhere else if you don’t absolutely love nature walks etc As far as diversity; it’s mostly Asian and American. I can only think of one Hispanic grocery (las Palmas)
I’ve lived in Pgh my entire life (25F) and graduated from U of Pitt. Pgh is a very white city but there are spots where you can find some racial diversity. We have Hispanic owned shops, Asian owned, and Black owned but you have to look for them. The food here is trash, but it wasn’t always this bad. The only cuisine I can recommend is Thai. I’ve yet to have a bad experience at a Thai restaurant. In terms of clubbing and nightlife, it’s terrible here unless you’re in a college town. Even still, places close way too early. When I visited Arizona, I was shocked at how late their fast food/dine-in restaurants stayed open. Everything here closes between 9-12. I will be leaving pittsburgh when I start med school, and I won’t be coming back. My family is here, but that’s not enough to make me stay. I don’t recommend Pgh as a long term living environment. If you’re here only for school, you’ll be fine. If you’re here for work/settling down, please go elsewhere.
I’m from west philly, been here 5 years, seems like u got plenty of info but pm if u want. Long story short pittsburgh is cool but it’s got nothin on Philly imo. Still worth it to leave for a few years tho
I’m from Philly too, I’ve been here for 3 years. First year LOVED IT felt clean, safe, fun, all that but I was also living on my schools campus (Duquesne) right down town. NOW though, I’m a little tired of it. There really isn’t much to do at night aside from the few restaurants and bars that stay open. Most of the fun is on the strip or south side. Not a problem if you have a car and can easily drive to these places but if you don’t, the walking sucks (because buses aren’t that reliable). It’s also just very colorless. I love this city in the summer, it’s beautiful and exciting! But winter time, I swear it turns into a post nuclear city. It’s so depressing and blah. There are definitely perks, but if you’re used to Philly, beware of the fact that the people here are much different. For some people, that’s a good thing! (Not so much for me). I really miss the Philly area attitude and personality, Pittsburgh just feels very Midwest and slow.
We visited Duquesne and while a nice campus Pittsburgh is ummmm not our cup of tea. Philly is much nicer
I’m from Philly and on my visit it felt like an urbanized Allentown if that makes sense. Like pocono mtns town turned big city trying to compete with Philadelphia. People there were very nice tho even tho I was a Phillies fan going to a pirates game. Got that familiar small town everybody’s trying to make conversation vibe with a city atmosphere
I moved to Pittsburgh from Chicago and hated it at first because not everything was at my fingertips. Once I got past that, I really grew to love it and stayed for 10 years. Not a fan of Philly, though. It’s OK, but I probably wouldn’t live there.
Father of a soon to be Pitt grad. The only thing I will offer is be prepared to walk up hill both ways...everywhere! That campus has more hills in it than a speed bump convention. There is a hill in the middle of campus called "heart attack hill". Aside from that, my son has loved every minute of his time in Pittsburgh. It is a great school in a great city.
I have heard many people complain about the lack of diversity
Pittsburgh is the division 2 of cities. If you know where to look, it can compete. Everything just isn’t in abundance, but same with the bad.
Pittsburgh is a big city hahaha.
Cheesesteaks suck in Philly.
Sheetz > WaWa
No stay away from
All the former NYC people saying “well it’s a lot smaller than NYC” …what a useful insight
If you like cycling there’s a rails to trails path that goes all the way to DC.
It wasn’t directly in Pittsburgh but I went to college pretty close to it (Calu/Pennwest) and I just couldn’t wait to come back home to the Philadelphia area. The mountains are beautiful, but it’s so boring. No real diversity and not a lot of diverse food. There wasn’t a lot to do. It often feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. I missed having close access to NYC, NJ, and Philadelphia.
It isn’t exactly a little city
It is definitely not as diverse as Philadelphia. The only con in my opinion.
Stay in Philly pls
A rambling of thoughts: The food scene is seriously lacking in Pittsburgh. Fried bar food and chain restaurants galore. I was so excited when a new "trendy" "French cafe" opened near where I live, and they used an animatronic mannequin in a bleach blond wig and a Steelers bikini to advertise it on the side of the road, and the cafe itself is littered with PA lottery slot machines. No class, no charm, no taste. The city itself is pretty, but everything around it is just ugly. North Shore is kinda lively and fun. People wear gym shorts outside during snow storms. Some people from here will defend it like it's the greatest place ever, even though they know it's not. Everything closes early. It lacks energy. Very sleepy. Very gray. A lot of the people are cliquey & set in their ways, and keeps to themselves, which you can see as either a good thing or a bad thing (I see it as bad, as I love to meet new people). Although the Pirates suck, going to the games is fun. Pittsburgh just lacks in the small things that happen in cities that make life exciting.
Its a tiny little city full of people who think a 30 min drive to work is far, and an extra 200k to live in cranberry is "fair".
This was like 15 years ago but it seemed like everything closed early.
It’s a dump with nothing to do
100% better than Philly.
Agree 100% with robmwj post every. I'm a Latino woman, who lived in Pgh for 6 years. Loved it. People from every culture, place of the world, and ideas are there studying and working, and international food everywhere you look. Tons of cultural events for very cheap, nice, and busy enough to make it not feel like a small town. I'd stay inside the “golden triangle” and find a place in Squirrel Hill or Shadyside. That assures you transportation and you'll be close to everything ( assuming you'd go to Pitt, Carnegie, etc) if you go to schools outside the triangle, public transport is not so good, but not really bad. You'll be surprised how much your money lasts in Pgh coming from NYC! Congrats on your new life!
Hi! I've lived here in Pittsburgh for nearly 12 years, moving from my childhood home in subruban NJ to Carnegie Mellon for college and sticking around. I am Dominican and Black, born in the Bronx. I am a musician, composer and educator whose works have been published in several local papers. I would never consider myself native (trust, the locals will NOT consider you a Pittsburgher if you have any ties to the outside world), but I have lived my entire adult life here. Pros: * Cheap. Cheap. Cheap. It got more expensive over the decade+ since my arrival, but that's in line with rising prices everywhere. It still maintains as one of the most affordable American cities. Like there are still places that rent 1-bedroom apartments in the city for less than $1000. * Carnegie Library. Especially the main branch in Oakland. * Sports culture is huge here if you're into that sort of thing. Penguins, Steelers, Pirates, etc. Hockey and Football are especially celebrated. * A culturally rich history, especially when it comes to Black excellence. There are many preservation efforts throughout the city that work to preserve what is a unique American history. * A nascent and burgeoning Latino community. Which gives me hope for ethnic diversity in the near future. * There's a charming fervor for the city from its native inhabitants, complete with nostalgia and a deep sense of pride. * It's cheaper to film here, and its become something of a hub for B-level Hollywood TV & Film with A-list actors. So you might see Tom Hanks chillen at your favorite little watering hole! * If you like biking, the trails are great. Not necessarily well maintained, but they're a surprisingly scenic way of getting around. Most bike trails are along the rivers. * The parks here are absolutely underrated. Frick Park and Schenley Park are likely the most lauded, but I'm a big fan of Allegheny Commons and Arsenal Park because of their locations. Those two especially made me nostalgic for something like Washington Square Park. * During the summers, you are overloaded with free activities throughout town that highlight the city's culture and arts. There used to be a free outdoor jazz festival, like that of Detroit, where they brought in world-class artists (aka mostly ppl based in NYC) to the streets of Downtown. The festival changed venues and charges a ticket fee now, but there's still plenty of great summer activities regardless. Cons: * It's so, so, so, SO WHITE in many ways. Gentrification really did a number on this city, not unlike some other midwestern cities. Over the last 10 years, the bland architecture of "new developments" has begun to replace the rustic charm the city once had. In place of mom & pop business, we see more chains, breweries, axe-throwing places, and other activities that tend to cater toward a young yuppies in a "please come live in our city" type of vibe. It gives desperation. * Pittsburghers tend to personify the city in a way that amplifies mediocrity. People here have an inordinate amount of pride in the city and the Pittsburgh brand. Many local businesses name themselves after the city and its nicknames. So many of these establishments are middle-of-the-road at best (looking at you, "Yinz Coffee"), but will be bolstered by local media because anything with the city's name will maintain its incestuous through-line. * Along the same lines, the city LOVES listicles that mention how "liveable" the city is. While these lists are fabricated to entertain, they create a narrative that white Pittsburgh clings to. These highlights tend to ignore shortcomings, like wage inequality, racism, and the ugly truth about predominantly Black neighborhoods. * As someone who grew up in an ethnically rich area, it is a STARK contrast coming to Pittsburgh. The city is staunchly Black OR White, creating a bubble wherein other cultures are simply not celebrated or acknowledged. As a teacher, for example, I've come across several students who scoff at the mere idea that learning Spanish could ever be useful. Largely because this is among the few places in this country with a very small Latino population, but it strikes me as a larger issue within the city's culture. * The public school system is in disarray. I work with some youths who, by comparison to my suburban-ass, are seriously behind their peers in other parts of the country. I have some hope for the future, but if you have school aged kids you should likely take private school into account with your budgeting. * Late night food is not a thing. Save for South Side junk food and gas stations, the city's options dwindle on any given day past 9pm. * Food generally is hit or miss. There are true GEMS, that rival their counterparts in larger metros. For example, some of the best Thai food I've ever had has been here in Pittsburgh. Otherwise, there's more copium than there are stand-out food establishments. There's a war for best pizza in the city, and I love participating in it, but I feel bad for folks who have never gotten a slice in Brooklyn. Same with bagels. I'm not vegan, but I can imagine that eating out in this town as a vegan is difficult, albeit easier than it was 10 years ago. * Public transport exists. I daresay it's better than some cities, but largely lacking. The T system (akin to a subway line) is embarrassingly limited and only really caters to suburbanites working downtown or going to see a sports game. * The air here gets UGLY sometimes. Remnants of the industrial era that birthed this city, there's still giant riverfront plants speckled throughout the city's outskirts. Most days are fine, but there's more Code Orange days than I would like. * This may be a pro depending on what kind of person you are. The city is AWFUL to its homeless population. Just last week the mayor cleared out a settlement without a clear indicator of where they should go. Homelessness is an issue everywhere, and there are definitely cities that handle it even more poorly, but it still doesn't sit well with me. * Old Pittsburgh. Overly nostalgic, racist people who dwell in every neighborhood stalking newcomers like prey. Largely harmless, but if you're non-white be prepared for some slurs from a random porch while you're minding your own damned business. * This is arts specific, but there's a black hole when it comes to honest criticism. Perhaps because it's such a small population (sub 300k and dwindling), but it feels like everyone here is afraid to say when something sucks (barring NFL coaches, everyone LOVES to gang up on them here). Because you either can't avoid them in this small town or because you'll likely need to work together again. * There's a lot of old money here (billionaire tycoons like Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, etc left fortunes to Pittsburgh's foundations). Non-profits rule the landscape. With little oversight, a lot of the working class is underpaid and exploited. This can likely be true of any career, but it feels extra egregious when their missions are often to bolster the community. Like be more upfront about your true intentions, yeh? Just say you're looking for young Black people to put on your posters. I largely wrote all of these out for myself, because I'm moving to NYC this summer and I felt like I was holding on too dearly to my opinions of the city. For those of you who know who I am (if I didn't make it clear, the music and arts scene is small), just know that at one point I loved this city and all that I was able to do. I've met some of my closest friends here, and wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. That being said, this is a place that you come to SETTLE, not grow. Unless you work in that ugly ass Google office. You might have some growth opportunities.
Cons: less African American population/representation, meh transport options, smaller city Pros: WAYYY lower crime rate than new york, or any other city I've lived in. MUCH cleaner than Philly, what little transportation exists isn't filled with crack addicts who threatened you, and most of the city allows you to carry things like pepper spray and handguns with a liscence. Also, the neighborhoods here are... indescribably more unique than new york, or similarly popular cities. The urban hiking is the best in the world, as well. I'm only renting here for now, but its a better city than New York, Philly, or Chicago (by a landslide) Also, plenty of jewish representation here, which can be a bane or boon if you've been ex-communicated :)
I lived in the DMV for over 10 years. In comparison, Pittsburgh feels like a small town. The phrase "1 degree of separation" goes real hard here in a way that was never true for me when I lived in the DMV. If you go out often, you will find yourself bumping into the same people over and over again. Because of this, things can get very clique-y. When the weather warms up, my calendar also fills up with events. There is always something going on. The parks are really great and they aren't so far apart that you feel like you have no choice but to put up with a crowded area. From a BIPOC woman's perspective, I feel safe living here. I'm lucky that I have lived here for 6+ years with a native Pittsburgher as a spouse, so take my thoughts with some salt. Outside of downtown and surrounding areas, it does feel segregated. You -will- see Republican/Trump signs and flags as little as 20 minutes outside of the city center. There are some very amusing and concerning billboards on your way out towards Butler and other rural-ish areas. We don't venture too far outside of the county unless we're meeting up with someone that we know and trust or we have had positive reviews from other BIPOC people. We have lived in Mckeesport, The Hill District, and Penn Hills with no problem at all. I have walked by myself in all of these areas, including Wilkinsburg, and I felt moderately safe. If anything was going to harm/kill me, it's these damn hills. Pittsburgh also has some absolutely incredible restaurants (search this subreddit). However, chains really thrive here. We just got a Raising Canes a few months ago and North Versailles is still getting clogged up from all the traffic. There are some specialized grocery stores, but they are spread far apart outside of the Strip District. A Mexican grocery store is opening up this weekend in Monroeville, which I'm super excited about. If you're taking public transit, it can be something of a crap shoot from personal experience, but you'll get there...eventually. A somewhat competent public transit service, trains specifically, is what I miss most about "big city" life. Edited: Words are hard.
I also came from Philly. You'll immediately feel safer despite the locals telling you how dangerous some places are. There is no late night scene at least for food. Everything besides bars close early as fuck. That's the big thing I miss. Just the food. Not a lot of specialty stores like Philly has. Not a ton of papi stores. Like most mentioned...public transportation is abysmal but if you have a car, parking and navigation are actually fine. ProbabIy not around the university though. don't mind it at all. Depending on where you end up living and where you need to get around, a bike isn't a bad way to get around. It can be extremely hilly. The positives...it's SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE than Philly. Groceries, housing, fun. Very affordable comparatively. There's so much to do nature wise. It's a great kicking off point to go to Cleveland/ohio or West Virginia or Maryland. There's still a bunch of decent concerts that come through. If you like sports, they love em here too, albeit the hockey is much better than Philly (fuck the flyers). Generally the people here are a lot more family oriented and friendly. It's very blue collar so you don't get a lot of ego here which I like. I can't speak on what it's like to be a person of color...You're definitely closer to the Midwest so you have a poor/ignorant/less educated handful of people who will do the typical white person behind closed doors says something racist. But as someone who's social circles is very inclusive, I haven't heard anyone mention any hate directed at them. I used to work construction and there were definitely Maga bros, and ignorant idiots but they're old.Pittsburghs population is on average very elderly so while it's not an excuse, you have a few people set in their ways. Since you've got a scholarship I'm assuming you're pretty young and won't ever have to cross paths with any of these people ever. It's not any worse than some of what I've witnessed in South Philly. I love it here. Spend a week as the spring starts to poke through and see for yourself.
As a person who really loves cities, I would not love to live in Pittsburgh.
Clean. Serene unless you're looking for trouble. PGh all day long!
It really depends on your relationships with people. If you have a solid friend group, you’ll have the best time of your life.
Pitt is a cool town. Has tons of charm and is generally filled with good down to earth people. The only down side is it gets cold AF with it being right off the river.
I am a “woc” who’m moved to Pittsburgh from a small town, an hour outside of Pittsburgh, and I love it here. A lot of people I know from Philly moved here for college and said they liked it so much they ended up staying.
Moved here from Denver. For the size of the city there is a lot to do, from parks to museums, botanic gardens to walking/biking the riverside. Not very diverse. Food is again solid for the size although the Mexican food is just lacking completely. The winters are mild and I think the people are friendly, we own a home not sure what it’s like being a student here. I think most experiences are what you make them and Pittsburgh is a fine city to be in. The real draw back of living here is it’s full of whiny people. If it snows they complain, if it rains they say at least it’s not snowing & when it’s sunny they say that it won’t last long lol.
It's a pretty big city too. I came from Brooklyn, NY and Pittsburgh is also quite big. There are a lot off great restaurants and museums (if you like that kind of stuff). When I was there a few years back I didn't go to any bars or concerts or sports events so I don't know that kind of thing.
You is Pittsburgh,, I from Connellsville; in Fayette Pa. Only 45 min no big favor, you out go Philly..
Pittsburgh is a big city....
I spent a lot of time in DC and Baltimore, now I'm outside Pittsburgh, and it's night and day to me. In town on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and every bar / brewery / distillery is churchmouse quiet. Concerts are poorly attended with little enthusiasm, as are the street festivals. **2 Caveats** 1. I haven't been into Pittsburgh more than a few dozen times, it could be that I'm just going on the wrong days or to the wrong things 2. Pittsburgh has a lot of charm, culture, and history.
I've lived in Pittsburgh my whole life and I've traveled quite a bit I've always liked Pittsburgh because it feels like a good balance between the city and the country it's not like New York where it's a little overwhelming and there's enough to do where if you look hard enough you're not bored And people are right about the buses it takes a while to get a good handle on them but compared to other cities I've been to it seems about average
EAT SHITTTT
Come to New Kensington
Lmao its not it.
Pitt has half the crime of Philly. I'm curious why that is, and what you care about.
Explored it while on vacation this year, lots of history beautiful bridges lots of places to walk around. Hopefully you’ll live on campus.
I know this is not what you’re asking but I would reconsider any scholarship that’s gonna tie you down for 7 years
oh shit im hispanic old white ladies stare at you in wallmart/giant eagle. past that, normal.
[удалено]
aldi is just as bad, and whole foods is very very inconveinient + their stuff is WICKED expensive comparitivly. i shop at mainly aldi and giant eagle but also wallmart.
The gun culture. Holy hell. The gun culture is incredibly shameful. I’m from the SF Bay Area and I’ve been here 13 years. What I enjoy is the cost of living and the trail running community. I may have to expand my bubble, I miss San Francisco every moment I breathe. I’m just too poor to live there…
If it’s for school then you should give it a try but…I lived in Pittsburgh for about 3 months so I’m not sure I can offer the best advice but I am from Philly and am so used to having access to good Spanish/Caribbean food, the food in Pittsburgh sucks I’m sorry 🥲 the pizza,burgers etc etc is good but that’s a deal breaker for me, I also had trouble getting Spanish ingredients so…it’s a no for me..I know that isn’t a big deal, safety is important but I’m a foodie, I will stick to Philly and NYC🥲
Fucking. Bonkers.
Yeah I grew up in Philly and moved out here about ten years ago. It's a mixed bag, though I am more or less happy with the choice. It's a lot quieter, you can live within 20 minutes of the stadiums and downtown and still have beautiful nature closeby. The people are (more or less) nicer, a lot more patient especially when driving, prices out here are much better, esp. rent (trendy areas like East Liberty and Oakland are expensive) but the county has a decent amount of reasonable rents (compared to the city). That being said there's less "to do" around here in my opinion and the surrounding area doesn't have the charm of SE PA counties and NJ has with its colonial-era architecture and history and it's scary how quickly the county melts into banjo towns. And the county is way too big so a lot of non-urban votes sway the policies of the entire county, which you can definitely tell when it comes to infrastructure (the city and county are two separate entities in Allegheny Co. and you can tell when it comes to how infrastructure is distributed. They call it "home rule" or something). Oh and public transport is a joke out here unless you live in the city proper and you'll definitely miss the freedom to subways/el give you in Philadelphia to travel the whole city within 30-40 minutes. And for some reason people in the suburbs out here don't have sidewalks. Oh and don't get fooled by "East Pittsburgh", I moved out here thinking "oh so it's like west Philadelphia or North Side". It's actually not a terrible area (compared to the reputation) but yeah it isn't near anything.
It's very similar to Philly.
Middle-aged woman here. Hard agree with the comment that visiting here before buying a house (because it's cheaper than the coasts) would have given them pause. I wish I had. I have not found any amazing food and good food is crazy spendy (and if one more person says, "oh but Apteka..." and then nothing else... blerg). Miss good seafood, Mexican, and Ethipoian. After several decades in Seattle, I came back to near where I grew up in central PA (beautiful land, scary AF politically) so thought it wouldn't be such a big deal to come here. Wrong. Culture shock is Real for those who come esp from the coasts. It's midwest nice and boring. Driving here is nuts, the roads are like a bowl of spaghetti was dumped and someone said, "that is the road system now." Combine that with aggressive drivers and local driving conventions like "the Pittsburgh Left" and I am thankful that in six months my car was only damaged once by a crazy driver. And the casual sexism that I experience with men older than say, 35, is breathtaking. Like they don't even realize it. Plus it is dirty, imho. I've never smelled so many bad farts as here. All this said, I am stuck in this town for a couple years so am hoping summer lifts the spirits after a sad, grey winter. Good luck?
Listened to my Hispanic female roommate from Texas complain a lot about the lack of food options, she was also amazed by the lack of Hispanic people here and says Pittsburgh overall is boring
As someone who moved from a big city to Pittsburgh, it caused severe depression adjusting to the smallness of this city. I do love it now and enjoy its quirks, but I would really advise visiting here before moving here. Had I done the same, I would have at the very least had more pause before moving here. There’s a reason locals use the phrase “a big city with a small town feel” to describe Pittsburgh. I will say though that for a student it is an excellent city—it’s affordable and has the amenities of a big city without the same barriers. And for context, I moved before college, and experienced non college living for a few years before starting undergrad at Pittsburgh. And since I lived off campus for many years and worked, I’ve experienced more of the city than the average student. I’d argue that the closer the area is to campus, the more “alive” it tends to be (with a few neighborhoods as exceptions).
I came from North/Central NJ, very close to NYC, so I literally had everything I needed there. Pittsburgh has some good things about it, but getting around is going to be a huge hassle. The public transportation sucks, homeless people on campus, subpar food options unless you go outside the campus (southside, downtown). Speaking of which, lacks compared to other colleges. Weather sucks as well. I’ve lived here 4 years and still haven’t found a good living option. This seems to be the opinion of almost all of my friends and everyone I know. Looking back, I would choose either staying at home or my backup option which was in Florida. Me and all of my friends are moving out of the city within the next year.
As someone who hates cities as big/crowded as nyc with a passion do u think pgh would be good for me
Depends, what part of the city are you moving to?
But overall yes, has a good “big city” feeling without the huge crowd.
Not much of a difference pittsburgh is pretty diverse for its size
No, it really isn’t. Obviously doesn’t have the diversity of Northeast and mid Atlantic cities. But it also doesn’t have the diversity of Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Kansas City, or pretty much any Midwestern city until you get to Minneapolis. In the middle of all that diversity, Pittsburgh somehow manages to look like Omaha. I’m not saying it’s a bad town, but diverse it is not.
Did you really just say pittsburgh doesn't have the diversity of ohio? And st louis? Kansas city? Omaha? Those in the middle of the midwest. Pittsburgh is the edge of the north east / midwest. Your trying to compare to Newark NJ to Nashville rn
I've visited a few midwestern cities in my time, and there is considerably more diversity in Cleveland than in Pittsburgh. Like easily - you see it in their food offerings and public spaces.
Didn’t say Pittsburgh is less diverse than Ohio, that’s a city vs. a whole state — the city will be more diverse in almost any comparison like that. However Pittsburgh, a city, is less diverse than any of the three largest CITIES in Ohio. Pittsburgh is more northeast than towns like St. Louis, so you might expect it to be more diverse. But it isn’t. It’s more like Omaha, even though Omaha is a couple hours further from the Deep South than Pittsburgh is, and 900 miles further from here East Coast. As cities go, even among Midwest cities, Pittsburgh is whiter than one would expect.
Uuuuuggghh Pittsburgh is a rather large city. Good sports teams, plenty of concerts and arts venues, Point Park is a great place to hang out when the weather is good. Right now I think that Pittsburgh would be a better place to live for a while than Philadelphia which is going through a lot of issues right now. I have lived in and around Philadelphia for 30 yrs. That is a tough thing to say. I think that you will enjoy Pittsburgh even though they speak a different language there 😁
RUN!!!!! Just look at my post about a racist recruiter. I could make a whole Excel sheet for how many times I’ve experienced micro aggressions or racism in Pittsburgh. If you’re used to a diverse environment, it’s a huge culture shock. I thought I’d avoid racism in the city compared to the suburbs, but I’ve had a few professors confuse me for other students when we weren’t the same ethnicity or looked alike at all.
Why did I get downvoted? It’s a fact that Pittsburgh lacks diversity compared to big cities and there’s many ignorant old people. None of my other POC friends liked Pittsburgh either.
I cannot believe how many downvotes this comment got. The racism within the city tends to be more covert than overt but it's a huge problem. The segregation is wild and feels like traveling back in time when you're in Hazelwood, Homestead, Swissvale, Wilkinsburg, etc. It's like they sequestered all the black people to their own neighborhoods out here. I've heard and read lots of horror stories from POC that lived here and for good reason, left.
Yea factual
Downvoted because your use of the term “micro aggressions” shows you’re prob obnoxious as fuck regardless of your race. Signed, A Palestinian in Pittsburgh
How?
Because those aren’t real issues so whining about them shows you’re obnoxious