Cost of living in Reading, PA
440,072 people (Census 2025 estimate). Overall prices are 2.9% below the US average, with housing at 85.4 on BEA’s index (US = 100). A single renter on $60,000 keeps $1,288 a month after 2026 taxes and modeled costs.
Typical household budgets in Reading, PA
Computed by MoveMath’s engine with 2026 tax law, HUD Fair Market Rent for the bedrooms each household needs, DOL 2020 childcare prices for Berks County, PA in current dollars, USDA Moderate-Cost food, one car per adult and $1,000 a month of other spending at US-average prices scaled by local price levels.
| Per month | Single, $60k | Couple + toddler, $110k | Family of four, $79,777 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross income | $5,000 | $9,167 | $6,648 |
| Taxes | $958 | $1,542 | $785 |
| Take-home pay | $4,042 | $7,624 | $5,863 |
| Housing | $1,114 | $1,418 | $1,418 |
| Childcare | $0 | $1,094 | $1,925 |
| Food | $444 | $995 | $1,291 |
| Transportation | $175 | $349 | $349 |
| Sales tax | $30 | $30 | $30 |
| Other goods & services | $992 | $992 | $992 |
| Left over | $1,288 | $2,746 | −$143 |
Family of four = two adults, a preschooler and a school-age child at the metro’s median household income ($79,777). Click a column to open it in the budget planner and change any input.
Price levels: Reading, PA vs Pennsylvania and the US
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. 100 = US average; bars compare the metro (dark) with Pennsylvania statewide (light).
Within Pennsylvania, Reading, PA ranks 5th of 16 metros on overall prices; the state as a whole is at 97.6. The dashed line marks the US average.
Rent and homeownership
| Unit | HUD Fair Market Rent | Income needed at 30% | Share of median income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $978 | $39,120 | 14.7% |
| 1-bedroom | $1,114 | $44,560 | 16.8% |
| 2-bedroom | $1,418 | $56,720 | 21.3% |
| 3-bedroom | $1,744 | $69,760 | 26.2% |
| 4-bedroom | $1,877 | $75,080 | 28.2% |
FY2027 FMRs for Reading, PA MSA: 40th-percentile gross rent (rent + tenant-paid utilities) for standard-quality units. Census median gross rent, all unit sizes: $1,181 (ACS 2020-2024).
Childcare prices in Berks County, PA
DOL has no 2022 price for Berks County, PA; these are the latest published prices, from 2020, adjusted to current dollars with the BLS CPI change since 2020.
| Age band | Center, weekly (2020) | Center, yearly today* | Home-based, weekly (2020) | Home-based, yearly today* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $215 | $14,473 | $180 | $12,117 |
| Toddler (2) | $195 | $13,126 | $165 | $11,107 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $180 | $12,117 | $170 | $11,443 |
| School-age (5–12) | $163 | $10,986 | $153 | $10,265 |
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2020 county medians for full-time care in Berks County, PA (the metro’s principal county). *52 weeks × 1.2945, the BLS CPI change for day care and preschool from the 2020 average to 2026-08.
Taxes: what you keep in Reading
| Single filer, 2026 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 |
| Pennsylvania income tax | $1,535 | $2,303 | $3,684 |
| Pennsylvania payroll taxes | $35 | $53 | $84 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,399 | $4,936 | $7,457 |
| Share of pay to taxes | 18.4% | 21.0% | 25.4% |
Pennsylvania municipalities and school districts levy a local Earned Income Tax (rates vary by municipality); it is not included here. State sales tax: 6% (state rate only; local rates add on), groceries exempt.
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05. Renters’ utilities are already inside gross rent.
Nearby metros
| Metro | Distance | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Single $60k left over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, PA | — | 97.1 | $1,418 | $1,288 |
| Lebanon, PA · compare | 26 mi | 93.2 | $1,353 | $1,331 (+$43) |
| Lancaster, PA · compare | 29 mi | 98.3 | $1,553 | $1,146 (−$142) |
| Allentown, PA-NJ · compare | 29 mi | 100.0 | $1,839 | $884 (−$404) |
| Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD · compare | 48 mi | 102.6 | $1,860 | $668 (−$620) |
| York, PA · compare | 50 mi | 96.0 | $1,327 | $1,360 (+$72) |
| Harrisburg, PA · compare | 51 mi | 98.7 | $1,598 | $1,117 (−$171) |
Common moves to and from Reading, PA
Census ACS metro-to-metro migration flows (ACS 5-year 2016-2020), people who moved in a year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reading, PA expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put overall prices in the Reading, PA metro at 97.1 (US = 100) in 2024 — 2.9% below the national average and the 127th highest of 387 metros. Housing is 85.4, goods 100.7.
What salary do you need to live in Reading, PA?+
A single renter earning $60,000 keeps $4,042 a month after 2026 taxes and has $1,288 left after rent at HUD Fair Market Rent, food, fuel, sales tax and other modeled costs. Use the cost of living calculator to find the salary that matches your current budget.
How much is rent in Reading, PA?+
HUD’s FY2027 Fair Market Rent — the 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities — is $1,114 for a 1-bedroom and $1,418 for a 2-bedroom. The Census median gross rent for all units is $1,181.
Does Reading have a local income tax?+
Pennsylvania municipalities and school districts levy a local Earned Income Tax (rates vary by municipality); it is not included here.