Overall
95.1
-4.9 below avg
2024 BEA RPP All 4 categories Federal source
Pittsfield, MA
Cost-of-living indicators for Pittsfield, MA, compiled from Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2024 data year). Categories include All Items, Goods, Services, and Rents.
CBSA: 38340 · Data year: 2024 · Rank: #165 of 387
Pittsfield, MA has a cost of living index of 95.1, meaning it's 4.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods cost 3.0% less, services 53.7% more, and rents are 26.5% below average. A $100K national salary has the purchasing power of $105,146 here.
What the Numbers Mean for Pittsfield
Pittsfield ranks #165 of 387 U.S. metro areas measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, placing it in the upper half by cost. With an overall Regional Price Parity of 95.1, Pittsfield, MA is 4.9% less expensive than the national baseline of 100. The gap between Pittsfield's most and least expensive categories — services at 153.7 versus rents at 73.5 — is what drives the household budget experience on the ground, not the single headline number.
Translated into dollars, a nationally-benchmarked $100,000 salary carries the purchasing power of $105,146 inside Pittsfield, while a household needs roughly $95,106 here to match a $100K lifestyle elsewhere. Rents carry the biggest swing in the BEA formula and are indexed at 73.5 — 26.5% below the national average — so anyone weighing a move or a remote-work arbitrage should treat the housing line as the single largest variable in the equation.
Looking at the 2008-2024 trajectory, Pittsfield's overall index has fallen by 4.5 points, improving relative affordability. For the 2024 data year, goods are indexed at 97.0 and services at 153.7, meaning everyday spending in Pittsfield is governed more by the services and rent mix than by retail goods prices. Readers comparing multiple destinations should always pair the RPP headline with local wage data and housing costs before drawing relocation conclusions.
Pittsfield Cost Index at a Glance
Pittsfield all-items cost index
Regional Price Parity vs national average (100)
Pittsfield category breakdown
BEA RPP composition by goods, services, rents, overall
Price Index Summary
Goods
97.0
-3.0 below avg
Services
153.7
+53.7 above avg
Rents
73.5
-26.5 below avg
Price Index vs National Average (100)
Overall
National avg
Index 95.1 (-4.9 vs national avg)
Goods
National avg
Index 97.0 (-3.0 vs national avg)
Services
National avg
Index 153.7 (+53.7 vs national avg)
Rents
National avg
Index 73.5 (-26.5 vs national avg)
Vertical line on each bar = national average (100)
Cost Breakdown Analysis
Above National Average
Services +53.7% (153.7)
Below National Average
Rents -26.5% (73.5)
Overall -4.9% (95.1)
Goods -3.0% (97.0)
Income Adequacy in Pittsfield
Pittsfield income adequacy score
$75,000 median income vs RPP 95.1
Salary Equivalent
A $100,000 salary at the national average cost of living equals:
$95,106
in Pittsfield, MA purchasing power
$50,000 nationally
$47,553
$75,000 nationally
$71,330
$125,000 nationally
$118,882
$150,000 nationally
$142,659
$200,000 nationally
$190,212
Use the salary calculator for custom amounts.
RPP History (2008-2024)
The cost of living has been trending downward, decreasing by 4.5 points over this period.
| Year | Overall |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.6 |
| 2009 | 99.1 |
| 2010 | 98.4 |
| 2011 | 95.2 |
| 2012 | 97.8 |
| 2013 | 96.1 |
| 2014 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 100.5 |
| 2016 | 100.5 |
| 2017 | 100.7 |
| 2018 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 99.2 |
| 2020 | 99.5 |
| 2021 | 96.0 |
| 2022 | 100.1 |
| 2023 | 93.5 |
| 2024 | 95.1 |
Metros with Similar Cost of Living
These metros have an overall RPP closest to Pittsfield, MA's index of 95.1.
Other MA Metros
Related Data for Pittsfield
Salary Data
BLS occupation wages for Pittsfield area
Fair Market Rents
HUD rent data for Pittsfield metro
Crime Rates
FBI UCR crime data near Pittsfield
School Districts
NCES school data for Pittsfield area
ZIP Code Data
Census demographics for Pittsfield area
Life Score
Quality-of-life composite rating
Relocation Guide
7-dimension relocation intelligence
Cost of Living Guides
Cheapest Metros to Live in 2026
Official BEA data on the most affordable areas
Most Expensive Cities: 2026 Rankings
What drives high costs and how to cope
Salary Negotiation Using RPP Data
Calculate real purchasing power for negotiations
Comparing Metro Areas
Step-by-step BEA RPP comparison walkthrough
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of living in Pittsfield, MA? ▼
Pittsfield, MA has a Regional Price Parity (RPP) index of 95.1, meaning it is 4.9% less expensive than the national average. Goods are indexed at 97.0, services at 153.7, and rents at 73.5. It ranks #165 out of 387 U.S. metro areas by overall cost.
What salary do I need in Pittsfield, MA to match $100K nationally? ▼
To maintain the same purchasing power as a $100,000 salary at the national average, you would need approximately $95,106 in Pittsfield, MA. Conversely, $100K earned in Pittsfield, MA has the purchasing power of $105,146 at the national average.
How expensive is rent in Pittsfield, MA? ▼
Rents in Pittsfield, MA are indexed at 73.5, which is 26.5% below the national average. This makes the area relatively affordable for renters.
Is Pittsfield, MA getting more expensive? ▼
From 2008 to 2024, Pittsfield, MA's overall cost index changed by -4.5 points (from 99.6 to 95.1). The cost of living has been declining.
What costs the most in Pittsfield, MA? ▼
The most expensive category in Pittsfield, MA is services at 153.7, which is 53.7% above the national average. The most affordable category is rents at 73.5, 26.5% below average.
What metros have a similar cost of living to Pittsfield, MA? ▼
Metros with the most similar overall cost index include St. Louis, Bloomington, El Centro. These areas have RPP values within a few points of Pittsfield, MA's 95.1.
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by Metropolitan Statistical Area (2024). Index where national average = 100.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCost Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — cost-of-living indices by metro and state. bea.gov/data/regional-price-parities
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — inflation context by metro. bls.gov/cpi
- HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) — housing-cost component. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — wage component. bls.gov/oes
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS — household income + demographics. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
- IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) — tax-burden context. irs.gov/statistics
