CostIndexUSA

Reading, PA vs Utica, NY Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

PA
Reading
97.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
More AffordableNY
Utica
92.7
overall index
$1,375/mo rent

Utica is slightly cheaper than Reading — 4.5% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Reading, you would need $76,400 in Utica. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing22.6%
Reading
85.4
Utica
66.1
🛒 Groceries1.0%
Reading
100.7
Utica
99.7
🚗 Transportation≈ Equal
Reading
102.6
Utica
102.6
🏥 Healthcare≈ Equal
Reading
92.8
Utica
92.9
Utilities+21.9%
Reading
108.2
Utica
131.9

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Utica, NY
$76,400
$3,600 less needed in Utica

Formula: salary × (92.7 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 0.9547. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Reading, PA

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

Utica, NY

Median Home Price
$213,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,375
Housing Index
66.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
12.9×

Reading has 22.6% lower housing costs compared to Utica.

Income & Job Market

Reading, PA

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

Utica, NY

Median Household Income
$61,800
Per Capita Income
$35,200
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
60,651
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingGovernmentEducationRetail

Affordability at a Glance

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

Reading, PA
4.5×income-to-rent ratio

78% of income left after rent (median)

Utica, NY
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.