From Chicago to Pittsburgh (Lincoln, Bloomfield: transplants, sales, apartments)

[bobcats_0203]

My wife and I live in Chicago but will be moving to Pittsburgh for a new job. We live in Wicker Park and love all the access to bars, restaurants, galleries, etc. Plus, it is full of young professionals. For those of you who are familiar with both cities, what are the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh that would compare with Chicago neighborhoods. Are there ones that you would say are comparable to Wicker Park/Bucktown? Lincoln Park? River North?

[Drover]

Two comparisons to Wicker Park/Bucktown come to mind: Shadyside for the boutique and dining aspect of WP/Bucktown, and the Carson strip in the South Side flats for the nightlife aspect. Most comparable to Lincoln Park is again Shadyside, though Pittsburgh doesn't really have anything quite as cosmopolitan as Lincoln Park. Shadyside especially along the Walnut Street corridor is the closest you'll get. The Forbes Avenue strip in Oakland kinda sorta replicates the DePaul area of LP in the way that it caters mostly to college kids. River North... closest you'll find is maybe near where the Strip District meets downtown -- tough to find a direct comparison.

I've done a Pittsburgh/Chicago neighborhoods comparison in two previous threads -- check out my previous posts here and here.

[nuwaver88]

I have never spent much time in the Windy City. I just know all of the Chicagoans that I Know take well to Pittsburgh, both the city and the suburbs. They seem to appreciate the city for what it is, a great city with a lot to offer, rather than the fact that it is not as big as Chicago and you can't really do things like hailing a cab. If you like urban living, live in then East End. I think that Pittsburgh's collection of East End neighborhoods is as good as you can find.

[bobcats_0203]

These are great points and thanks so much for directing me to those other threads. It's nice to have some comparison points. If there are any other Chicago transplants that have some advice or recommendations, we'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

[pittsteelerfan]

Pittsburgh will fail in comparision to Chicago on just about every level. Not saying Pittsburgh doesn't have good musuems or stuff like that, but compared to Chicago? Even the cost of living factor, when comparing similiar types of nabes will be similiar. Pittsburgh is a great little city, for what it is. But Chicago is considered a 'world class' city, Pittsburgh is not.

Of course if you like football, you do have the privlege of watching the Steelers at home!

I bet with all certainy, you'll get VERY homesick for Chicago, and the international feel that it has. It's VERY hard to downgrade from a city like Chicago. It's alot easier to upgrade, say going from Pittsburgh to Chicago, rather than vice versa.

Now, if you were just some blue collar working stiff, the transition might be easier. Just cause of the 'cost of living' factor and the better quality of life. I'm talking in terms of the homes in Pittsburgh being ALOT cheaper than Chicago. But not in nabes like Shadyside, you'll be getting into Chicago price ranges there. Even if they're a little cheaper, once you factor in the 3% 'city wage tax' (which Chicago doesn't have), and the higher property taxes (double what Chicago's are), it's basically 'even Steven'.

And as far as rents go, Chicago and Pittburgh are really no different. You'll pay as much in the Burgh as you would in Chi, especially if you rent in the East end.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

And as far as rents go, Chicago and Pittburgh are really no different. You'll pay as much in the Burgh as you would in Chi, especially if you rent in the East end.

Uh, OK. Sqft-for-sqft, amenity-for-amenity, neighborhood-for-neighborhood (as close as you can get anyway), rents are much cheaper in Pittsburgh. The same apartment that's $1000/mo in Shadyside -- pretty much the most expensive rental market in all of Pittsburgh, by the way -- is going to be about $1500/mo in Wicker Park.

Here's what $1175 will get you in Shadyside: a 1100sqft 2-bedroom unit with separate dining room. Oh, and all utilities included. Good luck finding anything similar in WP for less than 1800. Or, try finding a rehabbed 4/2 in Wicker Park for 2 grand.

[pittsteelerfan]

Originally Posted by Drover

Uh, OK. Sqft-for-sqft, amenity-for-amenity, neighborhood-for-neighborhood (as close as you can get anyway), rents are much cheaper in Pittsburgh. The same apartment that's $1000/mo in Shadyside -- pretty much the most expensive rental market in all of Pittsburgh, by the way -- is going to be about $1500/mo in Wicker Park.

Here's what $1175 will get you in Shadyside: a 1100sqft 2-bedroom unit with separate dining room. Oh, and all utilities included. Good luck finding anything similar in WP for less than 1800. Or, try finding a rehabbed 4/2 in Wicker Park for 2 grand.

I was waiting for you to chime back in Drover . I like that $1175 apt in Shadyside , especially the nice "upgraded" kitchen and bathroom. You trying to say I couldn't get the same apt in Chicago for that price range?

I guess I should have 'clarified' a little better. I'm was talking in terms of the average nabes in both cities. Of course when you get into Chicago's best nabes, they'll out price Pittsburgh's. But not your average 1 or 2 bed apts on the the northside of Chicago, in nabes like Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, West Ridge, etc.

Plus, the few dollars you might save on an apt in Pittsburgh, will go to the 'city' because of the 3 % 'wage tax'. Say him and his wife make 125 grand a year between them, how much do they have to pay the 'city' of Pittsburgh that they wouldn't have to pay the 'city' of Chicago? That would come close to 370 a month extra that they WOULDN'T be paying living in Chicago. I guess you ain't factoring that in though, but at the end of the day, you HAVE to!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

I was waiting for you to chime back in Drover . I like that $1175 apt in Shadyside , especially the nice "upgraded" kitchen and bathroom. You trying to say I couldn't get the same apt in Chicago for that price range?

I suppose maybe you could in, like, McKinley Park or something. But not in Wicker Park.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

I guess I should have 'clarified' a little better. I'm was talking in terms of the average nabes in both cities. Of course when you get into Chicago's best nabes, they'll out price Pittsburgh's. But not your average 1 or 2 bed apts on the the northside of Chicago, in nabes like Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, West Ridge, etc.

For comparable apartments in comparable neighborhoods like Lawrenceville, Bloomfield, or Regent Square, they certainly will.

Originally Posted by pittsteelerfan

Plus, the few dollars you might save on an apt in Pittsburgh, will go to the 'city' because of the 3 % 'wage tax'. Say him and his wife make 125 grand a year between them, how much do they have to pay the 'city' of Pittsburgh that they wouldn't have to pay the 'city' of Chicago? That would come close to 370 a month extra that they WOULDN'T be paying living in Chicago. I guess you ain't factoring that in though, but at the end of the day, you HAVE to!

Right. And what's the sales tax in Allegheny County versus Cook County? If they don't get you here, they'll get you there. The important measure is what is the overall tax burden as a percentage of income? I doubt it's substantially different from Pittsburgh to Chicago, but I'm willing to be proven wrong.

[chitriboy2009]

Can I ask where you ended up moving? Are you happy there? I live in Wicker Park and I am moving to Pittsburgh this summer for work. Any help is appreciated

[Drover]

Where in Pittsburgh will you be working, and will you be bringing a car? Are you trying to replicate your Wicker Park living experience? If so, which aspect(s) of it?