Cost of Living in Reading, PA
| Cost of Living in Reading, PA | Compared to State Average | Compared to National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (Buy and Rent) | 7% lower | 12% lower |
| Utilities (Monthly) | 25% lower | 21% lower |
| Food | 5% lower | 3% lower |
| Healthcare | 8% lower | 5% lower |
| Transportation | 2% higher | 9% higher |
| Goods & Services | 4% lower | 1% higher |
The cost of living in Reading, PA is 6% lower than the state average and 5% lower than the national average. Reading, PA housing is 12% cheaper than the U.S average, while utilities are about 21% less pricey. When it comes to basic necessities such as food and clothing, groceries are around 3% cheaper in Reading, PA than in the rest of the country, while clothing costs around 1% more .
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry cost 5% less here compared to the U.S. average. At the same time, non-necessary expenses such as entertainment and grooming services are 1% pricier in Reading, PA.
Housing is the most significant expense for most American households. The cost of living in a certain city takes into account both the price of rent and the price of a home. The average monthly rent in Reading is $1,665, while home prices circle around $440,330.
Both owning and renting come with utility expenses. These costs include basic services such as energy and telecommunications. In Reading, energy bills cost around $136.70 per month.
Food is the most important necessity and its cost varies around the country. This section includes the prices of everyday foods such as produce, meat and dairy. A bottle of milk costs about $4.43 in Reading, a dozen eggs go for around $3.27 and a pound of potatoes circles around $5.32.
The benchmark for this category is based on the prices of family doctor visits and specialized services such as optometry. In Reading, an optometry check-up costs around $116.70, while a dentist appointment is priced $103.63 on average.
Transportation expenses depend on multiple factors, with fuel being the most important. A gallon of gas is priced around $3.69 in Reading, while getting your tires balanced will run you about $64.96.
The cost of clothing tells you how much more or less money you need to buy basic items such as jeans, shirts or slacks in a new city. A men's shirt costs around $32.22 here. Meanwhile, a pair of women's slacks will set you back around $28.63.
The cost of entertainment and everyday services is based on common expenses in each category. For a movie ticket in Reading, you should budget around $12.15 a month. When it comes to personal services, a haircut usually goes for $28.07, while dry cleaning costs about $17.24.
The cost of living also takes median household income into account, so you can estimate how much more or less you could be earning in a new city by comparing it to the income in your current area. In Reading, the median household income is $45,599.