I lived in Pittsburgh for 8 years. It was eminently livable as a single grad student on a ~$30k stipend, but I wouldn't want to raise a family on that or therea

I lived in Pittsburgh for 8 years. It was eminently livable as a single grad student on a ~$30k stipend, but I wouldn't want to raise a family on that or thereabouts. Also, apartments may be cheaper but COL is an average over the whole metro area, and decent apartments or houses in a neighborhood you'd want to live in are a bit more. (Say $1000/mo for a nice 1-bed, or $300k for a decent house.) Keep in mind that cars, electronics, health insurance, and myriad other consumer goods aren't cheaper just because the city COL is cheaper. I'd probably want to make $60k or so to actually be comfortable and put some money away (edit: as a single person, and more than that with a family). (Fortunately, software engineers in Pittsburgh generally make quite a bit more than this, from what I've heard.)