Python: Pip Tries To Install To /bin Directory

I installed python with brew install python which pip /usr/local/bin/pip my PYTHONPATH shows /usr/local/lib/python2.7/site-packages/ However, when I try to install something with

Solution 1:

I was running into this same issue when trying to install virtualenv and flask. Turns out I had a .pydistutils.cfg file in my home directory. I remember placing this there not too long ago as a work around for installing something else. Once I removed this file, running pip install continued working as expected.

Solution 2:

For me, there was a setup.cfg file with the following code

[install]
prefix=

Removing the file fixed it for me.