I'm a Pittsburgh area native and I still react with shock when I find out what my friends and relatives in other cities pay for housing. Over $1,000/month for

I'm a Pittsburgh area native and I still react with shock when I find out what my friends and relatives in other cities pay for housing. Over $1,000/month for a little apartment and $300/month for a parking space. You could buy two houses in the Pittsburgh suburbs for that much money. A nice 3 bedroom house in a clean, low crime suburb can be had for under $100k. Smaller houses, fixer-uppers and houses in less than ideal neighborhoods can be purchased for under $50k.