Cost of Living: Bethlehem, PA vs Reading, PA
Quick rent-and-take-home comparison
Using a baseline of $70,000/yr gross, take-home is about $4,337/mo in Bethlehem, PA versus $4,337/mo in Reading, PA. In the model, rent is about 19.1% of gross in Bethlehem, PA versus 14.83% in Reading, PA, so Reading, PA tends to feel more affordable for rent.
Compare cost of living, rent, housing prices, and salary affordability between Bethlehem, PA and Reading, PA.
At a glance
- Cheaper overall (lower cost-of-living index): Reading, PA
- Lower rent (median 1BR/2BR): Reading, PA
- Lower home prices: Reading, PA
- Higher median household income: Bethlehem, PA
Cost of Living Index
Bethlehem, PA: 100 (U.S. = 100) · Reading, PA: 100 (U.S. = 100)
Both cities have the same cost-of-living index (U.S. average = 100).
Median Rent
Bethlehem, PA: $1,246/mo (midpoint of 1BR/2BR) · Reading, PA: $967/mo
Median rent in Bethlehem, PA is $279/mo higher than in Reading, PA.
Median Home Price
Bethlehem, PA: $236,500 · Reading, PA: $109,800
Median home price in Bethlehem, PA is $126,700 higher than in Reading, PA.
Median Household Income
Bethlehem, PA: $66,443 · Reading, PA: $45,599
Bethlehem, PA has a higher median household income than Reading, PA by $20,844.
Bethlehem, PA overview · Reading, PA overview · Popular comparisons