Housing-Department of Biological Sciences - Carnegie Mellon University

Housing

In Pittsburgh, you usually have to pay a security deposit for your housing — roughly equivalent to a month's rent. Most apartments have leases that last one year. Generally, one bedroom apartments can range from $500-$750 per month, but are most common around $600-$650. If utilities are not included, these can cost an additional $75-150 per month. You can cut costs by sharing a place with a roommate. It is recommended that you set aside enough money to cover the deposit, the few days in August, September's rent and October's rent, because you do not receive your first stipend check until the end of September.

Neighborhoods to consider:

Shadyside
North Oakland
Friendship
Squirrel Hill
Greenfield
Point Breeze
Highland Park
Bloomfield

Neighborhoods to Avoid:

East Liberty
South Oakland 

Student Recommended Landlords

Landlords NOT Recommenced by Students:

  • Mozart Management
  • MJ Kelley
  • Lobos Management

Questions to Ask Prospective Landlords:

  • What is the parking situation? Is it on-street parking or off-street parking? Is parking included in rent? If on-street parking is available, does your car require a City of Pittsburgh parking permit?
  • Are any utilities included?
  • How much is the security deposit?
  • Is there a 24-hour phone number to call in case of emergency?
  • Am I allowed to install window air conditioners (if there is no central air)?
  • Apartment Checklist

Other Housing Resources:

Disclaimer: This list of advice and information was put together by current graduate students of the Biological Sciences department, and does not express the views of the department. Most of the information below has been verified, but some may have changed including URLs, dates, and email addresses, so self-verification of information is advisable.