How are people making ends meet in Pittsburgh when jobs don't pay enough to live?

I had to leave Pittsburgh because I knew I wouldn't be able to afford to keep living there. All the jobs I found only pay around $17/hr, which is the same rate I can make where I'm from and even more in addition to having a lower cost of living. When comparing the pay of similar jobs between Pittsburgh and where I live now, they are either the same or better than Pittsburgh! What the heck is up with that? The cost of food and gas is so much more expensive than where I live now AND you need to pay for annual car inspections, yet the pay is the same?