Cost of living in Reading

In Reading, United States, living costs about $2254 per month for one person and $4786 for a family of four, including rent.

How expensive is Reading compared to other cities?

Overall living costs in Reading are 58% more expensive than the European benchmark.

How does Reading compare to your city?

Reading is 45% cheaper than New York City, without rent.

Rent in Reading is, on average, 44% lower than in New York City.

What drives the cost of living in Reading?

Who is Reading a good fit for?

Reading is a better match for people who prioritize lifestyle benefits and can afford the premium driven by rent & utilities and transport. For most moderate-income households, housing costs are the main barrier.

FAQ

Why is Reading so expensive?

The primary reason for Reading's high cost of living is the significant expense associated with rent and utilities. This factor greatly influences overall living expenses.

Is food expensive in Reading?

Yes, food costs in Reading are 23% higher than the European benchmark, adding to the overall living expenses. Residents should budget accordingly for groceries and dining.

Is public transport affordable in Reading?

Public transport in Reading is relatively affordable, being 29% lower than the European benchmark. This can help mitigate some transportation costs for residents.

Cost of living breakdown

Cost of Living, one person, including rent
2254 $
Without Rent
789 $
Rent & Utilities
1465 $
Food
588 $
Transport
53 $
Monthly Salary, after tax
2845 $
GDP per Capita
81,695 $
Freedom Index
8.39
Lifespan
77 years
Speak English
96%
Population
95.1K

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Update Prices

Restaurants

Lunch menu, inexpensive restaurant 18.1 $
Dinner 64.4 $
Fast food, McDonalds or KFC 10.5 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 6.55 $
Capuccino 4.47 $
Coke, 330ml 2.28 $

Compare Reading with:

Markets

Milk, 1 L or 1 qt 1.28 $
Bread, 0.5 kg or 1 lb 3.25 $
Rice, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.75 $
Eggs, 12 pack 4.73 $
Cheese, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.1 $
Chicken Breast, 1 kg or 2 lb 13.1 $
Round Steak, 1 kg or 2 lb 15.3 $
Apples, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.35 $
Banana, 1 kg or 2 lb 1.81 $
Oranges, 1 kg or 2 lb 4.5 $
Tomato, 1 kg or 2 lb 3.31 $
Potato, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.49 $
Onion, 1 kg or 2.2 lb 2.77 $
Water, 1 L or 1 qt 1.17 $
Coca-Cola / Pepsi, 2 L or 67.6 fl oz 2.25 $
Wine, 750 mL bottle 15.1 $
Beer, 0.5 L or 16 fl oz 1.72 $
Cigarette pack 9.75 $

Transportation

One-way Ticket 1.79 $
Monthly Pass 44.7 $
Gas or Petrol, 1l or 0.26 gal 0.91 $
Taxi, 8 km 19.4 $

Personal Care

Doctor Visit, private clinic 91.4 $
Cold medicine, for 1 week 8.43 $
Hair Shampoo, 400 ml or 12 oz. 4.99 $
Toilet paper, 4 rolls 3.58 $
Toothpaste, 1 tube 2.04 $

Utilities per Month

1 person, electricity, heating, water & garbage 73 $
Family of 4, electricity, heating, water & garbage 111 $
Internet plan, +60 Mbps 53.2 $

Rent per Month

1 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 40 sq.m 1,293 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, outside of center, 85 sq.m 1,929 $
1 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 40 sq.m 1,520 $
3 Bedroom Apartment, in city center, 85 sq.m 2,122 $

Buy Apartment Price

Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment, in city center 1,782 $
Price per Square Meter to Buy House, in suburbs 1,779 $

Salaries and Financing

Average Monthly Net Salary, after tax 2,845 $
Mortgage Interest Rate, for 20 years fixed-rate 6.63%

Sports and Leisure

Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 34.8 $
Cinema, 1 seat 16.9 $
Haircut 15.8 $

Clothing and Shoes

Brand Sneakers, mid-range, Nike or similar 78.8 $
Brand Jeans, Levis 501 75.1 $

Childcare

Preschool, full day, monthly for 1 child 1,103 $
International Primary School, yearly for 1 child 22,520 $

Compare Reading with other top cities

Cayman Islands
Reading vs George Town (George Town is 62% more expensive)
Bahamas
Reading vs Nassau (Nassau is 22% more expensive) Reading vs Freeport (Freeport is 3% less expensive)
Vanuatu
Reading vs Port Vila (Port Vila is 4% more expensive) Reading vs Luganville (Luganville is 35% more expensive)
United States
Reading vs New York City (New York City is 80% more expensive) Reading vs Los Angeles (Los Angeles is 41% more expensive) Reading vs Chicago (Chicago is 18% more expensive) Reading vs Houston (Houston is 0% less expensive) Reading vs Phoenix (Phoenix is 5% more expensive) Reading vs Philadelphia (Philadelphia is 13% more expensive) Reading vs San Antonio (San Antonio is 3% less expensive) Reading vs San Diego (San Diego is 48% more expensive) Reading vs Dallas (Dallas is 13% more expensive) Reading vs San Jose (San Jose is 63% more expensive)
Canada
Reading vs Toronto (Toronto is 14% more expensive) Reading vs Montreal (Montreal is 13% less expensive) Reading vs Calgary (Calgary is 5% less expensive) Reading vs Ottawa (Ottawa is 1% less expensive) Reading vs Edmonton (Edmonton is 21% less expensive) Reading vs Winnipeg (Winnipeg is 22% less expensive) Reading vs Mississauga (Mississauga is 10% more expensive) Reading vs Vancouver (Vancouver is 18% more expensive) Reading vs Brampton (Brampton is 6% less expensive) Reading vs Hamilton (Hamilton is 4% less expensive)
Barbados
Reading vs Bridgetown (Bridgetown is 40% less expensive) Reading vs Holetown (Holetown is 38% less expensive)
Panama
Reading vs Panama City (Panama City is 39% less expensive) Reading vs Colon (Colon is 48% less expensive) Reading vs Tocumen (Tocumen is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Santiago de Veraguas (Santiago de Veraguas is 53% less expensive) Reading vs David (David is 63% less expensive) Reading vs La Chorrera (La Chorrera is 58% less expensive) Reading vs Balboa (Balboa is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Pacora (Pacora is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Chitre (Chitre is 52% less expensive) Reading vs Penonome (Penonome is 51% less expensive)
Saint Kitts And Nevis
Reading vs Basseterre (Basseterre is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Cayon (Cayon is 45% less expensive)
Cuba
Reading vs Havana (Havana is 55% less expensive) Reading vs Santiago de Cuba (Santiago de Cuba is 37% less expensive) Reading vs Holguin (Holguin is 43% less expensive) Reading vs Camaguey (Camaguey is 32% less expensive) Reading vs Santa Clara (Santa Clara is 53% less expensive) Reading vs Bayamo (Bayamo is 48% less expensive) Reading vs Guantanamo (Guantanamo is 31% less expensive) Reading vs Las Tunas (Las Tunas is 31% less expensive) Reading vs Pinar del Rio (Pinar del Rio is 51% less expensive) Reading vs Cienfuegos (Cienfuegos is 61% less expensive)
Costa Rica
Reading vs San Jose (San Jose is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Limon (Limon is 47% less expensive) Reading vs Liberia (Liberia is 60% less expensive) Reading vs Alajuela (Alajuela is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Puntarenas (Puntarenas is 43% less expensive) Reading vs Cartago (Cartago is 57% less expensive) Reading vs Heredia (Heredia is 45% less expensive) Reading vs Tamarindo (Tamarindo is 25% less expensive) Reading vs Santa Teresa (Santa Teresa is 42% less expensive)
Saint Lucia
Reading vs Castries (Castries is 49% less expensive) Reading vs Vieux Fort (Vieux Fort is 47% less expensive)
Jamaica
Reading vs Kingston (Kingston is 41% less expensive) Reading vs Spanish Town (Spanish Town is 65% less expensive) Reading vs Montego Bay (Montego Bay is 55% less expensive) Reading vs Half Way Tree (Half Way Tree is 48% less expensive) Reading vs May Pen (May Pen is 64% less expensive) Reading vs Mandeville (Mandeville is 57% less expensive) Reading vs Old Harbour (Old Harbour is 62% less expensive) Reading vs Linstead (Linstead is 54% less expensive) Reading vs Savanna-la-Mar (Savanna-la-Mar is 50% less expensive) Reading vs Port Antonio (Port Antonio is 49% less expensive)
El Salvador
Reading vs San Salvador (San Salvador is 47% less expensive) Reading vs Santa Ana (Santa Ana is 69% less expensive) Reading vs Soyapango (Soyapango is 48% less expensive) Reading vs San Miguel (San Miguel is 52% less expensive) Reading vs Mejicanos (Mejicanos is 48% less expensive) Reading vs Apopa (Apopa is 49% less expensive) Reading vs Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla is 47% less expensive) Reading vs Ahuachapan (Ahuachapan is 35% less expensive) Reading vs Usulutan (Usulutan is 52% less expensive) Reading vs Sonsonate (Sonsonate is 61% less expensive)
Antigua And Barbuda
Reading vs St. John's (St. John's is 52% less expensive) Reading vs All Saints (All Saints is 52% less expensive)
Grenada
Reading vs St. George's (St. George's is 53% less expensive) Reading vs Grenville (Grenville is 53% less expensive)
Dominica
Reading vs Roseau (Roseau is 56% less expensive) Reading vs Portsmouth (Portsmouth is 50% less expensive)
Saint Vincent
Reading vs Kingstown (Kingstown is 56% less expensive) Reading vs Georgetown (Georgetown is 55% less expensive)
Belize
Reading vs Belize City (Belize City is 61% less expensive) Reading vs San Ignacio (San Ignacio is 52% less expensive) Reading vs Belmopan (Belmopan is 68% less expensive) Reading vs San Pedro Town (San Pedro Town is 41% less expensive) Reading vs Caye Caulker (Caye Caulker is 30% less expensive)
Guatemala
Reading vs Guatemala City (Guatemala City is 55% less expensive) Reading vs Mixco (Mixco is 72% less expensive) Reading vs Coban (Coban is 60% less expensive) Reading vs Quetzaltenango (Quetzaltenango is 66% less expensive) Reading vs Jalapa (Jalapa is 60% less expensive) Reading vs San Miguel Petapa (San Miguel Petapa is 60% less expensive) Reading vs Momostenango (Momostenango is 61% less expensive) Reading vs Mazatenango (Mazatenango is 61% less expensive) Reading vs Flores (Flores is 62% less expensive) Reading vs Panajachel (Panajachel is 65% less expensive)
Honduras
Reading vs Tegucigalpa (Tegucigalpa is 63% less expensive) Reading vs San Pedro Sula (San Pedro Sula is 54% less expensive) Reading vs Choloma (Choloma is 73% less expensive) Reading vs La Ceiba (La Ceiba is 71% less expensive) Reading vs El Progreso (El Progreso is 61% less expensive) Reading vs Villanueva (Villanueva is 62% less expensive) Reading vs Comayagua (Comayagua is 68% less expensive) Reading vs Puerto Cortes (Puerto Cortes is 68% less expensive) Reading vs Yoro (Yoro is 67% less expensive) Reading vs La Lima (La Lima is 61% less expensive)
Dominican Republic
Reading vs Santiago de los Caballeros (Santiago de los Caballeros is 65% less expensive) Reading vs Santo Domingo (Santo Domingo is 54% less expensive) Reading vs Puerto Plata (Puerto Plata is 66% less expensive) Reading vs Higuey (Higuey is 66% less expensive) Reading vs La Vega (La Vega is 75% less expensive) Reading vs San Cristobal (San Cristobal is 63% less expensive) Reading vs San Pedro de Macoris (San Pedro de Macoris is 68% less expensive) Reading vs San Francisco de Macoris (San Francisco de Macoris is 77% less expensive) Reading vs San Juan de la Maguana (San Juan de la Maguana is 72% less expensive) Reading vs Bonao (Bonao is 76% less expensive)
Nicaragua
Reading vs Managua (Managua is 66% less expensive) Reading vs Leon (Leon is 72% less expensive) Reading vs Masaya (Masaya is 68% less expensive) Reading vs Matagalpa (Matagalpa is 76% less expensive) Reading vs Chinandega (Chinandega is 72% less expensive) Reading vs Esteli (Esteli is 74% less expensive) Reading vs Granada (Granada is 69% less expensive) Reading vs Jinotega (Jinotega is 80% less expensive) Reading vs Juigalpa (Juigalpa is 71% less expensive) Reading vs San Juan del Sur (San Juan del Sur is 61% less expensive)