Cost of living index
Reading, PA
97.1 / 100
Living in Reading, PA is 2.9% cheaper than the US average.
Overall prices
97.1
Housing / rent
85.4
vs US average
−2.9%
What it costs to live in Reading, PA
Reading, PA has an overall price level of 97.1 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 2.9% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 85.4 it is 14.6% below the national average. Because rent and mortgage payments are the biggest line in most household budgets, that housing figure is usually what you’ll feel most when you move here.
Common questions
Is Reading, PA an expensive place to live?
Reading, PA has an overall cost-of-living index of 97.1, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 2.9% cheaper than the country as a whole.
Is housing expensive in Reading, PA?
Housing in Reading, PA scores 85.4 against a US average of 100 — roughly 14.6% below average. Housing is usually the largest single cost, so it drives most of the overall difference.
How does Reading, PA compare to the US average cost of living?
Overall prices in Reading, PA sit at 97.1 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 85.4. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.