Reading, PA Cost Of Living

Demographics | Cost Of Living
Updated: 2023-11-15

Cost Of Living In Reading, PA Summary

Cost of living in Reading research summary. The cost of living index is set to 100 for the average place in the United States. A cost of living index above 100 means Reading is expensive. An index value below 100 means the city is a relatively cheap place to live.

On a city-by-city basis in Pennsylvania, home prices and rent have the biggest impact on the cost of living. Here are the key takeaways based on Saturday Night Science:

  • The cost of living index in Reading is 88, with 100 being the average.

  • The cost of living index in Reading is 0.9x lower than the national average.

  • Reading ranks as the #36 cheapest in Pennsylvania out of 247.

  • Reading ranks as the #1,278 cheapest out of 6,412 in the US.

  • The median home value in Reading is $83,100.

  • The median income in Reading is $38,738.

Table Of Contents

  1. Summary
  2. National Comparison
  3. Housing Breakdown
  4. Detailed Pricing
  5. Nearby Comparisons
88
Reading's Overall Cost Of Living
0.9x
Lower Than The National Average

What is the cost of living in Reading, PA?

According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Reading has an overall cost of living index of 88, which is 0.9x lower than the national index of 100.

Compared to Pennsylvania, Reading has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Pennsylvania's index of 97.

The standard of living in Reading ranks as #36 most affordable out of the 247 places we measured in Pennsylvania. By definition, that implies Reading ranks as the #211 most expensive place in the Keystone State.

For more reading on life in Reading, check out:

36 out of 247
In Pennsylvania
1,278 out of 6,412
In America

Reading Cost Of Living Vs. Pennsylvania

Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Reading. Here is how it fairs on each of the criteria:

  • The Services index in Reading is 101.

  • The Groceries index in Reading is 101.

  • The Health index in Reading is 96.

  • The Housing index in Reading is 51.

  • The Transportation index in Reading is 112.

  • The Utilities index in Reading is 108.

Living Expense Reading Pennsylvania National Average
Overall 88 97 100
Services 101 99 100
Groceries 101 101 100
Health 96 97 100
Housing 51 85 100
Transportation 112 105 100
Utilities 108 106 100
For more reading on cost of living around Pennsylvania, check out:
Reading Cost of Living Vs. PA

Reading, PA Housing Cost Breakdown

Housing swings affordability the most between places in Pennsylvania, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2017-2021. The key points are:

  • The Median Home Value in Reading is $83,100.

  • The Median Rent in Reading is $843.

  • The Median Income in Reading is $38,738.

  • The Home Value To Income in Reading is 2.1x.

  • The Rent To Monthly Income in Reading is 0.26x.

Statistic Reading Pennsylvania United States
Median Home Value $83,100 $197,300 $244,900
Median Rent $843 $1,013 $1,163
Median Income $38,738 $67,587 $69,021
Home Value To Income 2.1x 2.9x 3.5x
Rent To Monthly Income 0.26x 0.18x 0.2x
Search Homes For Sale In Reading, PA
$83,100
Median Home Value
$843
Median Rent
$38,738
Median Income

Reading, PA Costs By Category

Detailed Reading Services Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Reading Pennsylvania
Shampoo $1.18 $1.06
Movie $13.11 $10.68
Bowling $13.65 $14.67
Haircut $18.18 $18.62
Beauty Salon $33.13 $39.05

Detailed Reading Groceries Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Reading Pennsylvania
Ground Beef $4.21 $4.22
Fried Chicken $1.34 $1.39
Milk $2.44 $2.05
Potatoes $3.49 $3.29
Pizza $10.69 $10.62
Beer $11.96 $9.38
Toothpaste $1.84 $2.34

Detailed Reading Health Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Reading Pennsylvania
Optometrist $86.81 $108.57
Doctor $103.0 $116.17
Dentist $93.74 $99.13

Detailed Reading Transportation Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Reading Pennsylvania
Gasoline $2.54 $2.22
Tire Balancing $48.77 $50.07

Detailed Reading Utilities Costs Vs. Pennsylvania

Item Reading Pennsylvania
All Electricity $191.01 $167.67
Phone $189.01 $175.64

Reading SnackAbility

5
/10
Overall SnackAbility
Jobs
3/10
Housing
5
Affordability
6
Diversity
8.5
Safety
N/A
Amenities
10
Education
3
Commute
8

Cost Of Living In Cities Around Reading

The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Reading. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:

  • Ephrata, PA has a cost of living index of 96, 1.1x Reading.

  • Wyomissing, PA has a cost of living index of 111, 1.3x Reading.

  • Sanatoga, PA has a cost of living index of 101, 1.1x Reading.

City Population Cost Of Living Vs. Reading
Ephrata, PA 13,767 96 1.1x
Wyomissing, PA 11,026 111 1.3x
Sanatoga, PA 8,724 101 1.1x
Blandon, PA 7,836 105 1.2x
New Holland, PA 5,743 105 1.2x
Shillington, PA 5,470 96 1.1x
Pennside, PA 5,425 95 1.1x
Whitfield, PA 5,275 105 1.2x
Birdsboro, PA 5,119 98 1.1x

Articles About Pennsylvania

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