The City of Bridges has something for everyone. If you’re sticking to a rent budget of under $1,000, you’re in luck: there are plenty of options!
Below you’ll find an outline for everything you can find available to you at this price point: the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, what neighborhoods are ideal for your budget, the amenities you should expect, and how to pick a property management company for this budget.
BEDROOMS AND BATHROOMS:
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?
Pittsburgh is well-known for an affordable cost of living. Average rent prices in Pittsburgh are significantly lower than the national average. According to Rent Cafe, 34% of renters in Pittsburgh are renting on a budget between $700 and $1,000 a month.
That being said, it’s not difficult to find a decent-sized apartment for under $1,000 per month!
When you start looking for an apartment at this price point you should expect to find some nicer studios, 1-bedrooms, and additional 2-bedrooms on the market. 3-bedroom apartments might be scarce but are still available and out there at this price point; this is quite unusual for the average city.
You have to admit it - Pittsburgh rent prices are pretty reasonable!
NEIGHBORHOOD:
What neighborhood best fits your interests and needs?
We’ve previously written a blog post about the different Pittsburgh neighborhoods available to you. Some of them are expensive to live in, though - so which ones will suit your budget?
According to Zumper, these are the Greater Pittsburgh Area neighborhoods in your price range (from least expensive to most expensive):
Hazelwood - $650
Morningside - $675
Beechville - $675
Brookline - $720
Troy Hill - $750
Fineview - $750
South Oakland - $750
Allentown - $795
Duquesne Heights - $799
Central Oakland - $800
Friendship - $875
Mount Washington - $895
Upper Lawrenceville - $895
Brighton Heights - $900
East Allegheny - $900
Squirrel Hill North - $938
Squirrel Hill South - $950
Bloomfield - $970
East Liberty - $990
Point Breeze - $997
To narrow it down a bit more, we recommend checking out Squirrel Hill (North and South), Upper Lawrenceville, and East Allegheny for starters. These neighborhoods (and the majority of our properties) are just outside of the city, making it easy to get around, close to the city, without encountering crime or unsafe areas. The city life is great and we want to make sure you get the best value for your dollar, hence the recommended neighborhoods. Nearby neighborhoods to those should also work well.
You can navigate the interactive map on this page to see what Birgo Realty apartments are available in these locations right now.
AMENITIES:
What amenities are available to you at this price range?
The good news is that you really can’t narrow down the amenities available to you in any particular price range. There’s not much that’s off-limits for what you can get at this price range.
The bad news: the general rule is that the more you spend, the more you’ll get.
That’s not always the case, though… You can get a lot of value for what you pay, especially considering that 34% of your PGH neighbors are renting with a budget similar to yours. Nothing is impossible!
And for $1,000 or a little less, you’re going to do pretty well. Typically you’ll get basics like a shared laundry room, in-window AC units, and off-street parking. Pet-friendly apartments are also common. Other times you’ll be surprised to encounter a common area with games, your own furnace and AC, a patio, a pool, and maybe even a dog park!
Start looking around and you’ll realize that you’ve got plenty of great options for amenities available to you in this price range… The best options just may not be the first apartments that pop up.
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT:
Who is the property management company? Do they have a good reputation?
We’ve already written a blog post on how to analyze a property management company (go here), but the property management company or landlord that you’re renting from is pivotal for your overall experience at your apartment.
The property management company is more important than you would probably think!
The best experiences are memorable, yes, but so are the worst experiences. In the worst case scenario that something bad happens, you’d better hope that a reliable maintenance team or site manager would show up to help or at least take the right precautions to keep you and your apartment safe.
This is probably the most important factor on this list, because if this is bad, your budget, amenities, area, and floor plans - no matter how much you paid for them - will become a waste. You’re risking the most patience and time with the most personal place of your life if you get this wrong! But if the property management company takes care of its tenants, then you’ll have an easy time living and your apartment will feel like home.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether you’re most worried about finding the right layout, area, amenities, or property management company, you should have a lot of confidence that you can find it in Pittsburgh. As a company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Birgo Realty is here for you and if you need to get in contact with us for any reason, click on the “contact” button at the top of this page. 🏠
(We take a lot of pride in our properties, property management teams, and maintenance teams: See our available apartments under $1000/month at the button below)
