CostIndexUSA

Fayetteville, AR vs Reading, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableAR
Fayetteville
91.4
overall index
$1,575/mo rent
PA
Reading
97.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Fayetteville is moderately cheaper than Reading — 6.2% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Fayetteville, you would need $85,000 in Reading. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+11.1%
Fayetteville
76.9
Reading
85.4
🛒 Groceries+7.6%
Fayetteville
93.6
Reading
100.7
🚗 Transportation+2.5%
Fayetteville
100.1
Reading
102.6
🏥 Healthcare+2.5%
Fayetteville
90.5
Reading
92.8
Utilities+44.1%
Fayetteville
75.1
Reading
108.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Fayetteville to see what you'd need to earn in Reading to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Reading, PA
$85,000
$5,000 more needed in Reading

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 91.4) = salary × 1.0624. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Home Price
$358,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,575
Housing Index
76.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.9×

Reading, PA

Median Home Price
$299,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,400
Housing Index
85.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Reading has 11.1% higher housing costs compared to Fayetteville.

Income & Job Market

Fayetteville, AR

Median Household Income
$77,700
Per Capita Income
$44,300
Unemployment Rate
3.5%
Population
93,949
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyRetailManufacturing

Reading, PA

Median Household Income
$75,700
Per Capita Income
$43,100
Unemployment Rate
5%
Population
95,112
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailEducationLogistics

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Fayetteville, AR
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Reading, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.