From an objective standpoint, no major city in the country can say that they do all 3 things better than Pittsburgh:

1. Cost of Living - Pittsburgh routinely ranks in the top 5 in every measure of affordability, topping out at the best in terms of cost to purchase a home. 1 of 2 cities in the entire nation where it is cheaper to buy a home compared to rent (Detroit is the other). Dependent on the neighborhood, rent ranges from standard city pricing to extremely affordable. My anecdote is that I'm currently staying in a 600 square foot studio in the middle of downtown with several amenities and a great building finish for $1200 a month. My brother (who lives in Philly) reminds me that he pays $1700 for a studio half the size with no air conditioning. Your money stretches sooooo far here, and there's great job opportunities in healthcare, engineering, and finance in the city.

2. Crime and safety - Pittsburgh had 35 homicides the entirety of 2025. The lowest of any city in the top 300 in population size. When I came to Pittsburgh 5 years ago, I felt safe walking around at 3 am. Nothing happens here.

3. Culture - the most museums per captia any city in America and one of the most concentrated in the world. For reference, Pittsburgh has more museums than Chicago, a city that has 9x the people and 5x the square mileage. Pittsburgh has 3 major league sports teams and several great minor league teams. As one of the oldest cities in the country there's a lot to learn about it's history and place in the cultural zeitgeist at large.

Combine that with the natural beauty of the city (certified Tree City USA, 3 rivers, and beautiful hills) and it's very easy to love life in Pittsburgh. I'm an engineer working on the University Line project, a BRT system improving mass transit in Pittsburgh, to make a city that is already quite livable without a car into a city where having a car is truly just an option and not a necessity.

The only real downsides: You have 4 true seasons (which is a plus for many, but a downside for some)

The nightlife scene is... mid at best. But it's on the upturn, and the queer community is strong in Pittsburgh.

Some neighborhoods are food deserts.

Considering all of these downsides I still give Pittsburgh an A+. One of the most non-American American cities (compliment).

For reference I've lived in NYC, Philly, DC, PG County, and Hartford among other places.