Pittsburgh offers a unique blend of world-class research institutions, vibrant cultural life, and an affordable cost of living that makes it an easy place to call home. The city’s friendly neighborhoods, strong sense of community, and easy access to recreation, restaurants, art, culture, and sporting events make it a safe, enjoyable city all year round. With a growing economy and rich history, Pittsburgh is a place where you can thrive both professionally and personally.
Need to find an apartment? Need to get groceries? Interested in joining a book club?
This page contains practical information about getting settled in Pittsburgh with an emphasis on resources and information about Pitt's Oakland neighborhood and surrounding areas. We also recommend Pitt's Office of Off-Campus Living homepage for more detailed information on off-campus housing and the curated Cool Pittburgh site for information about fun things to do in the city.
Housing in Pittsburgh
- University Resources
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Pitt Website/Resources: contains links for searching for apartments, and for lease information, safety information, Oakland Community Ambassadors, additional resources, and contact information for assistance.
Contacts:- General Off Campus Living Contact: offcampus@pitt.edu, (412) 624-6998
- Tricia Margiotti – Property Manager Liaison, Off-Campus Housing: marg9@pitt.edu
- Elana Gutmann, Coordinator of Graduate and Commuter Student Programs; Email: elg224@pitt.edu
- Anna MacKinnon, Associate Director of Off-Campus Experience; Email: anna.mackinnon@pitt.edu
University-Owned Housing: Check out some of the housing options that Pitt has available. Mike Barker can answer questions about open spaces.Office of Off-Campus Living: The hub for living off-campus that includes leasing resources, safety tips, the code of conduct, etc.
- Apartment Listings
- Find a Roommate
- Find a Sublease
- Renter’s Checklist: Review this checklist of questions to consider when looking for an apartment.
- Contact Information: ocl@bc.pitt.edu; +1-412-624-6998
Additional Resources:
Disability Resources and Services: Explore resources for students who need disability-related housing and/or dining accommodations.
Office of International Services (OIS): OIS provides immigration-related services (travel, visa information, etc.), outreach, and events. Contact Information: ois@pitt.edu; +1-412-624-7120 - Non-University Resources
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Please note that these tools are not affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh and, as such, you should ask many questions and carefully examine these rentals and rental agreements associated with them.
- Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) Student Housing: Many students from Pitt and other local universities reside in affordable housing offered by PTS. They offer housing to non-theological seminary students – contact housing@pts.edu
- Recommended sites to explore additional apartment rentals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and beyond:
Pitt's Office of Off-Campus Living has comprehensive webpages about searching for apartments in Pittsburgh and how to navigate leases. Check out those pages if you are considering off-campus rentals and check out the "Additional Off Campus Housing Tips" section below for more tips.
- Additional Off Campus Housing Tips
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University owned application process:
- No application or fees – Potential renter must be confirmed in the University ID center and in good standing
- A lease will be sent via email and signed through DocuSign
- A last month’s deposit is required after signing the lease
Affordable and safe areas to rent off campus:
- North Oakland and South Oakland – rent starts around $800-900+; close to campus and easy access to buses
- Shadyside and Squirrel Hill – a little farther from campus but still have access to the bus
- Bloomfield and Regent Square-- also farther from campus but still have access to the bus
- Apartments further from campus will be more affordable. Ex. Forest Hills and Penn Hills
Additional costs to consider:
- Security deposit – typically the same amount as 1 month’s rent
- Utilities – cable, internet, sewage, electric, gas
- If moving from a warmer climate, keep heating costs in mind
- It is rare to find an apartment where rent includes all utilities – set aside $150-200 for utilities
- Renter's Checklist (from Pitt Off Campus Living)
International students moving to Pittsburgh:
- Choosing an apartment
- If you can’t see an apartment in person before you move, ask the landlord for a video tour or photos
- If you have family or friends in the area, ask them to visit the rental for you
- If you do not have a SSN or credit score and the landlord requires proof of income for the application, ask if you can show proof of financial assistance, your I9, or find a cosigner
Essentials
- Safety
- Visit this Graduate Studies Office website for essential safety information about campus police, subscribing to emergency alerts, support for domestic violence survivors and more.
- For Families with Children
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Check out the resources below for information on childcare at Pitt, Pittsburgh's local schools, and Pennsylvania's child health insurance program:
- Employment Information for Partners of Grad Students/Postdocs
- Check out these resources if your partner, spouse, or significant other is looking for employment in Pittsburgh.
Transportation in Pittsburgh
- Buses
- Oakland and the surrounding neighborhoods have robust access to multiple bus lines to help get around the city efficiently. The Pittsburgh Regional Transit Authority is your one-stop website for all public transit information such as schedules, fares, and links to a mobile app for real-time bus tracking.
- Information for Drivers
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- Driver's License Information: Visit this PennDOT site for the latest information on obtaining a Pennsylvania driver's license and search for the license centers nearest to you.
- Vehicle Titling and Registration: This PennDOT site has comprehensive information about Pennsylvania vehicle titling and registration for new residents.
- EZ-Pass for Turnpike (Toll Roads): If you think you will be travelling a lot on the PA Turnpike (toll road), visit this site to learn about and enroll in the EZ-Pass program to save money and time.
Groceries by Pitt
Although there has historically been a dearth of grocery stores on the Oakland campus, nearby neighborhoods have some major grocery store chains as well as smaller, specialty shops. Browse by neighborhood below or check out this Yelp list of grocery stores near campus.
- Pitt Public Market
- In summer, the farmers' market features produce stands and food trucks on campus. This is a seasonal market with changing hours, so visit this page for the latest schedule and information.
- Shadyside and East Liberty
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- Giant Eagle Market District (5550 Centre Avenue) You can get there on the following buses from Oakland: 71C, 71D, P3, 75.
- Trader Joe's (6343 Penn Avenue) You can get there on the following buses from Oakland: 71B, P3, 75, 82
- Whole Foods (5700 Penn Avenue) You can get there on the following buses from Oakland: 71B, 71C, 75
- Southside
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- Aldi (2628 E Carson Street) You can get there from Oakland on the following bus: 75
- Squirrel Hill
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- Giant Eagle (1091 Murray Avenue) You can get there from Oakland on the following buses: 61A, 61B, 61C, 61D, 93
- Strip District
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- Located between 11th and 33rd streets, Pittsburgh’s Strip District features an array of international and specialty grocery stores, along with restaurants, a food hall, and street vendors.
- You can check out a list of stores here and learn about the history of the Strip here.
- The Strip can get very busy on the weekends in the late morning and early afternoon, especially when there is a Steelers, Pirates, or Penguins game. Go then for the atmosphere and to explore a unique side of Pittsburgh. Weekdays or early mornings (before 9 a.m.) are the best times to visit the Strip if you are serious about shopping efficiently and you want to go to specific stores.
- You can get to the Strip from Oakland on the 54 bus.
Community Resources
- Living in Oakland
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- Check out Pitt's guide to living in Oakland for essential information on housing guidelines and civic and public safety policies specific to Pitt/Oakland.
- Oakland Ambassadors are University of Pittsburgh students who serve as neighborhood guides to the campus and surrounding area. Learn more about who they are and how to find them here.
- Explore Carnegie Libraries
- Pittsburgh is home to the world-class Carnegie Public Library system. With a main branch near Pitt's campus in Oakland, the libraries offer more than just books with branches in Pittsburgh neighborhoods and virtual programming for the whole family. Check out the links below to get started.
- Get a library card- This page also has useful information about borrowing materials, reserving meeting rooms and business-center services (ex. printing) at the library.
- Get the Libby app (online library book access)- Carnegie Library has partnered with this app that lets you quickly access e-books and other online materials in their collection. You must have a Carnegie Library card (above) to sign up.
- Carnegie Library Events and Programs Calendar- Carnegie Library offers a wide variety of programs from book clubs and crafters’ circles to programs for kids to webinars on entrepreneurship and ESL speaking club, “Let’s Speak English” (see "English Conversation Resources" below). You can filter the calendar by library location, age group, modality, and event type to find a program you are interested in.
- English Conversation Resources
- International trainees, these resources are a great way to practice conversational English and meet your new Pittsburgh neighbors!
- Carnegie Library's "Let's Speak English" is a fun, relaxed conversation group. Visit the library's calendar page and search "Let's Speak English" to find their next meeting time and location.
- Pittsburgh Literacy offers free adult ESL speaking classes and one-to-one tutoring sessions led by volunteers.
- Elegant Speakers & Listeners Toastmasters club is for ESL speakers looking to improve their American English, pronunciation, and cultural fluency. Through their online curriculum, personalized mentoring, and interactive meetings, club members support each other in becoming confident, effective communicators. Visit their website to learn more.
- Local News Sources
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Pittsburgh is home to several major daily newspapers, alternative weekly papers, and robust student journalism. Check out this list of local news outlets to learn more.
- City of Pittsburgh Resources
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This site has comprehensive information about Pittsburgh's city operations and services, such as trash removal, road safety, and accessibility resources.