Cost of Living in Reading, PA
Reading, PA — prices, rents and what jobs really pay here after taxes.
Salary comparison calculator
What would you need to earn in Reading, PA to keep the same lifestyle — after taxes — as in another city?
How expensive is Reading, PA?
With a price level of 97.1 (U.S. average = 100), Reading, PA is close to the national average. In detail, housing costs are 15% below average; everyday goods cost about the same as the national average; utilities run 8% above average; other services such as healthcare and dining are 2% below average. The biggest difference from the national average is in housing.
Prices in Reading, PA vs. the U.S. average
| Category | Index (U.S. = 100) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | −2.9% |
| Housing | 85.4 | −14.6% |
| Goods | 100.7 | +0.7% |
| Utilities | 108.2 | +8.2% |
| Other services | 97.7 | −2.3% |
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Rent in Reading, PA
| Unit | Monthly rent | Income needed (30% rule) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,086 | $43,440/yr |
| 1 bedroom | $1,237 | $49,480/yr |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,575 | $63,000/yr |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,937 | $77,480/yr |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,085 | $83,400/yr |
HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026, population-weighted across the metro's counties.
Salary needed to live in Reading, PA
To keep the same standard of living as in an average-priced U.S. city, you would need to earn roughly:
| Salary in an average U.S. city | Equivalent in Reading, PA | Take-home here |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $38,800 | $32,165 |
| $60,000 | $58,200 | $47,157 |
| $80,000 | $77,600 | $61,039 |
| $100,000 | $97,100 | $74,159 |
| $150,000 | $145,600 | $106,314 |
Scaled by the BEA price level (pre-tax). Take-home: single filer, Pennsylvania 2026 taxes. For a tax-aware comparison with a specific city, use the calculator above.
A monthly budget on the median wage
A single worker earning Reading, PA's median wage of $49,440 takes home about $3,366 a month. A typical one-bedroom rents for $1,237, which is 37% of take-home pay — above the 30% guideline that financial planners suggest. That leaves about $2,129 a month for everything else.
Take-home pay in Reading, PA
- Federal income tax$3,753
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,065
- Medicare (1.45%)$717
- Pennsylvania income tax$1,518
- Take-home pay$40,387
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.07% state
Highest-paying jobs in Reading, PA
| Job | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Manager | $99,920 | $76,056 | $78,360 |
| Registered Nurse | $98,470 | $75,081 | $77,355 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $58,480 | $47,373 | $48,808 |
| Office Clerks, General | $46,820 | $38,362 | $39,525 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,040 | $37,760 | $38,903 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | $45,860 | $37,621 | $38,760 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,500 | $36,570 | $37,677 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | $37,990 | $31,539 | $32,494 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $37,270 | $30,982 | $31,921 |
| Retail Salesperson | $33,010 | $27,690 | $28,529 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aide | $29,830 | $25,233 | $25,997 |
| Cashier | $29,260 | $24,792 | $25,543 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | $28,090 | $23,880 | $24,603 |
*In U.S.-average dollars after adjusting for local prices.
Pay and living costs in Pennsylvania cities
Half of Pennsylvania’s 6,064,600 workers earn less than $49,690 a year and half earn more; the middle 50% earn $36,690–$78,270 (BLS, May 2025). Prices vary a lot within the state: Philadelphia, PA stretches a paycheck furthest, while Allentown, PA is the costliest.
| Metro area | Median pay | Price level | 1-BR rent | Rent share | Left after rent / mo | Buying power* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $54,310 | 102.6 | $1,520 | 41% | $2,159 | $43,051 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $49,650 | 94.7 | $1,058 | 31% | $2,321 | $42,832 |
| Allentown, PA | $48,990 | 100.0 | $1,365 | 41% | $1,972 | $40,052 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $49,610 | 98.7 | $1,212 | 36% | $2,165 | $41,073 |
| Scranton, PA | $46,330 | 93.6 | $1,028 | 32% | $2,137 | $40,600 |
| Lancaster, PA | $48,210 | 98.3 | $1,220 | 37% | $2,066 | $40,136 |
| York, PA | $48,170 | 96.0 | $1,060 | 32% | $2,224 | $41,048 |
| Reading, PA | $49,440 | 97.1 | $1,237 | 37% | $2,129 | $41,611 |
| Erie, PA | $44,460 | 91.0 | $945 | 31% | $2,100 | $40,174 |
| State College, PA | $49,220 | 96.8 | $1,194 | 36% | $2,157 | $41,563 |
| Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | 94.6 | $1,119 | 35% | $2,124 | $41,122 |
| Altoona, PA | $44,270 | 89.5 | $948 | 31% | $2,085 | $40,658 |
| Lebanon, PA | $46,500 | 93.2 | $1,112 | 35% | $2,064 | $40,890 |
| Williamsport, PA | $46,050 | 92.3 | $995 | 32% | $2,152 | $40,896 |
| Johnstown, PA | $44,110 | 85.9 | $846 | 28% | $2,176 | $42,207 |
*Yearly take-home pay (on each metro’s median wage, single filer) in U.S.-average dollars. Price level: BEA RPP 2024 (U.S. = 100). Rent: HUD FY2026 one-bedroom fair market rent.
Reading, PA vs. similar-size cities
| Metro area | Price level | 1-BR rent | Median wage | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | 97.1 | $1,237 | $49,440 | 174,670 |
| Green Bay, WI | 93.1 | $915 | $49,940 | 174,550 |
| Naples, FL | 103.2 | $1,797 | $47,800 | 173,880 |
| Mobile, AL | 88.1 | $919 | $47,000 | 172,550 |
| Anchorage, AK | 105.4 | $1,190 | $60,200 | 177,050 |
| Visalia, CA | 99.8 | $1,123 | $45,130 | 171,140 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 100.2 | $1,467 | $46,490 | 170,820 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Reading, PA expensive to live in?
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, overall prices in the Reading, PA metro area are 97.1% of the U.S. average, with housing at 85.4%. It is the #127 most expensive of 387 metro areas we track.
What salary do you need to live in Reading, PA?
To match the buying power of a $60,000 salary in an average-priced U.S. city you would need about $58,236 in Reading, PA (before tax differences). The median wage across all jobs here is $49,440.
Can you afford Reading, PA on the median wage?
A single worker on the $49,440 median wage takes home about $3,366 a month after 2026 taxes; a one-bedroom at $1,237 would take 37% of that.
How much is rent in Reading, PA?
HUD’s FY2026 fair market rents for Reading, PA are $1,086 for a studio, $1,237 for one bedroom, $1,575 for two bedrooms and $1,937 for three bedrooms, including utilities.
Top salaries by field in Reading, PA
Management Occupations
- General and Operations Manager — $99,920
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
- Registered Nurse — $98,470
Healthcare Support Occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care Aide — $29,830
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $28,090
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations
Sales and Related Occupations
- Retail Salesperson — $33,010
- Cashier — $29,260
Office and Administrative Support Occupations
- Office Clerks, General — $46,820
- Customer Service Representative — $44,500
Production Occupations
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,860
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $58,480
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,040
- Stocker and Order Filler — $37,990