Condo vs. House in Pittsburgh: Which Costs Less Per Month?
Condo fees make many buyers assume a house is cheaper. In the Pittsburgh area, the numbers often say otherwise. Comparing the typical condo and the typical single-family home sold in the past 12 months, the condo came out about $270 a month cheaper, even after its fee.
Typical Pittsburgh Condo vs. Single-Family Home
| Measure | Condo | Single-family home |
|---|---|---|
| Homes sold | 1,043 | 5,235 |
| Median price | $325,000 | $355,000 |
| Median size | 1,559 sq ft | 1,792 sq ft |
| Price per sq ft | $205 | $206 |
| Median annual taxes | $4,325 | $4,926 |
| Median days on market | 36 | 26 |
The median Pittsburgh-area house was built in 1958, so many buyers are also taking on older roofs, furnaces and windows.
Monthly Cost Compared
Using our condo vs. house calculator defaults (a $323,750 condo with a $278 fee vs. a $355,000 house, 20% down, 7.3% for 30 years, and estimates for insurance and upkeep), the condo costs about $2,516 a month and the house about $2,783. The house’s higher price, taxes and insurance, plus about $3,550 a year in maintenance and repairs, outweigh the condo fee.
What the Condo Fee Replaces
- Lawn care and snow removal
- Exterior painting, siding and often roof replacement
- Part of your insurance (the association’s master policy covers the building)
- In many city buildings: heat, water, sewer, trash and building staff
When a House Makes More Sense
- You want a private yard or plan to expand
- You’d rather control your own repairs and timing than follow association rules
- You’re looking in a neighborhood with few condo options
- The condo you like has a very high fee, low reserves or a pending special assessment
Run Your Own Numbers
Every building is different. Enter your own price, fee and taxes in the condo vs. house calculator, check a community’s recent fees in the HOA Directory, and talk with our Condo Financing Specialist about how the fee affects what you qualify for.
Free download: The Downsizing Blueprint →
Talk to a Pittsburgh Condo Specialist
Call the My Pittsburgh Condo team at (724) 933-8500 or contact us. We’ll pull the latest sales, fees and HOA documents for any building you’re considering.
Source: West Penn MLS condo and townhouse sales in Allegheny County and the surrounding suburbs tracked on My Pittsburgh Condo, November 2025 through October 2026. Medians shown; figures are deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Neighborhoods with very few sales can swing widely from year to year.