I’m currently reading This Is Where You Belong by Melody Warnick. It’s about loving the place you live, and it got me thinking about living in Pittsburgh. I’ve been living in the ‘Burgh since I was two-years-old, so I’ve been here over 25 years.

I’m pretty sure I could write a book on what it’s like to live in Pittsburgh, but I’ll try and keep this post to a simple pro and con list. Spoiler alert: I love it 😊 

Cons of Living in Pittsburgh

• Traffic. We have a few tunnels in and around Pittsburgh, and there always seems to be traffic around them. Jimmy (my husband)  and I have been known to plan outings around the heavy traffic times in the city. It’s simply a part of life, especially if you’re trying to get from one end of Pittsburgh to another.
• Winter. The winters can be quite cold and snowy. In February 2010, we were hit with over 21 inches of snow. It was kind of awesome, though, because I didn’t have school for about a week 😉 

• Cloudy Days. Pittsburgh has an average of 203 cloudy days per year. It definitely makes me appreciate the sun when I see it!

Pros of Living in Pittsburgh

• Livability. Pittsburgh constantly places high on the nation’s list of most livable cities due to its low crime rate, low cost of living, cultural opportunities, outdoor activities, and low risk of natural disasters.
• Dialect. Have you ever heard of Pittsburghese? Pittsburghers like to use words like yinz, nebby, and slippy, along with phrases such as “Kennywood’s open” and “Apost tu.” It’s pretty cool!
• Bridges. Pittsburgh has a whopping 446 bridges. Some of the well-known ones are the Fort Pitt Bridge, Smithfield Street Bridge, and Roberto Clemente Bridge. The Roberto Clemente bridge is one of my favorites during Pirates’ and Steelers’ games, because the bridge is closed off to vehicles and pedestrians get to take over and walk across it.

One of my favorite bridges, the Smithfield Street Bridge.

• Sports. Between the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins, Pittsburgh is a huge sports city. Heinz Field, PNC Park, and the PPG Paints Arena are all awesome venues and the teams themselves are even better. The atmosphere during baseball, football, and hockey games in Pittsburgh is unparalleled.
• Seasons. Pittsburgh experiences all four seasons and fall is especially gorgeous.

• Food. From sandwiches stuffed with fries and coleslaw to ham barbecue and stuffed cabbage, the ‘Burgh has a unique and tasty food scene going on! You’ll find vegan restaurants, coffee shops, and more. Pittsburgh has a food scene that rivals big cities like New York and Los Angeles.
• Health care. If you come to Pittsburgh for any sort of health care, you’re in good hands. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is world renowned and has so many talented, hard working doctors. People from all over the world come for medical treatment in Pittsburgh.
• Entertainment. Phipps Conservatory, the The National Aviary, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, plenty of museums, the Strip District, a lively performing arts scene, and much more make for plenty of things to do!

That time I met a bald eagle at The National Aviary!

The cons of living in Pittsburgh aren’t that uncommon for a lot of cities in the United States. The pros, though? They make living in Pittsburgh absolutely amazing. I’m proud to call this city my home!

What are the pros and cons of where you live?