Reading, PA vs Atlanta, GA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Atlanta, GA is 3.1% more expensive than Reading, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Reading works out to about $77,300 in Atlanta, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 30.0% more in Atlanta. Goods are 0.3% lower and other services 1.0% lower.
- Typical asking rent is $1,843 a month in Atlanta and $1,551 in Reading, $3,504 a year more in Atlanta (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $376,000 in Atlanta and $311,000 in Reading.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Atlanta was 0.8% more expensive than Reading.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 30.0% higher in Atlanta than in Reading
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 100.1 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.4 |
| Housing (rents) | 85.4 | 111.0 |
| Utilities | 108.2 | 96.2 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 96.7 |
| Category | Reading | Atlanta | Atlanta vs Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 100.1 | +3.1% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 100.4 | −0.3% |
| Housing (rents) | 85.4 | 111.0 | +30.0% |
| Utilities | 108.2 | 96.2 | −11.1% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 96.7 | −1.0% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,551 | $1,843 | +18.8% |
| Typical home value | $311,000 | $376,000 | +20.9% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Reading | $75,000 | $77,300 | +3.1% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Reading and Atlanta has widened since 2008: 0.9 points then, 3.0 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 98.1 |
| 2009 | 99.3 | 95.1 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 98.3 |
| 2011 | 97.6 | 96.5 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 99.2 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 98.3 |
| 2014 | 97.3 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 98.1 | 98.1 |
| 2016 | 98.7 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 99.0 | 99.4 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 98.2 |
| 2019 | 97.4 | 98.1 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 98.7 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 98.6 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 100.5 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 100.1 |
Goods
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.0 | 93.9 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 97.8 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 99.8 |
| 2014 | 97.9 | 99.4 |
| 2015 | 99.3 | 99.4 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 98.9 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 99.2 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 99.0 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 97.1 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 97.1 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 99.1 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 98.5 |
| 2024 | 100.7 | 100.4 |
Housing (rents)
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.6 | 101.6 |
| 2009 | 87.1 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 90.0 | 96.5 |
| 2011 | 90.1 | 96.0 |
| 2012 | 93.3 | 95.4 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 94.0 |
| 2014 | 93.2 | 95.0 |
| 2015 | 87.4 | 96.0 |
| 2016 | 89.9 | 98.3 |
| 2017 | 84.4 | 98.8 |
| 2018 | 92.8 | 98.9 |
| 2019 | 89.5 | 99.6 |
| 2020 | 79.1 | 102.7 |
| 2021 | 83.1 | 105.5 |
| 2022 | 90.2 | 107.3 |
| 2023 | 82.7 | 110.9 |
| 2024 | 85.4 | 111.0 |
Utilities
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.9 | 94.8 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 92.9 |
| 2010 | 109.9 | 98.8 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 103.3 |
| 2012 | 106.1 | 101.8 |
| 2013 | 105.5 | 101.3 |
| 2014 | 104.4 | 98.5 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 101.9 |
| 2016 | 107.2 | 102.4 |
| 2017 | 111.7 | 105.1 |
| 2018 | 114.7 | 98.9 |
| 2019 | 115.7 | 101.7 |
| 2020 | 112.9 | 101.3 |
| 2021 | 110.7 | 100.0 |
| 2022 | 110.8 | 102.2 |
| 2023 | 118.6 | 96.9 |
| 2024 | 108.2 | 96.2 |
Other services
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 91.5 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 100.2 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 95.2 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 98.4 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 99.0 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 97.5 |
| 2016 | 101.0 | 98.0 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 97.4 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.3 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 98.7 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 98.6 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 95.5 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 99.0 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 96.7 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $1,843 in Atlanta vs $1,551 in Reading
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (typical asking rent, all homes, smoothed), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $808 | $995 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $843 | $1,024 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $859 | $1,033 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $836 | $1,038 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $852 | $1,055 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $870 | $1,080 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $872 | $1,092 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $869 | $1,095 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $883 | $1,118 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $885 | $1,152 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $901 | $1,165 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $892 | $1,165 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $916 | $1,191 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $933 | $1,222 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $936 | $1,228 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $927 | $1,245 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $945 | $1,268 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $965 | $1,298 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $969 | $1,309 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $970 | $1,304 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $969 | $1,324 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,011 | $1,342 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,037 | $1,378 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,054 | $1,394 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,086 | $1,445 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,145 | $1,528 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,190 | $1,638 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,185 | $1,662 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,216 | $1,681 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,253 | $1,734 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,304 | $1,767 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,291 | $1,739 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,344 | $1,754 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,384 | $1,766 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,381 | $1,766 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,389 | $1,733 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,408 | $1,751 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,454 | $1,768 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,457 | $1,770 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,480 | $1,751 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,491 | $1,780 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,490 | $1,793 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,508 | $1,805 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,510 | $1,790 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,523 | $1,800 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,546 | $1,826 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,551 | $1,843 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $376,000 in Atlanta vs $311,000 in Reading
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Reading, PA
- Atlanta, GA
- United States
Source: Zillow Home Value Index (typical home value, middle tier, smoothed, seasonally adjusted), through September 2026. Data Provided by Zillow Group.
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlanta, GA | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $155K | $176K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $155K | $179K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $157K | $183K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $158K | $187K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $159K | $191K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $160K | $195K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $161K | $197K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $163K | $201K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $164K | $206K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $166K | $210K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $168K | $213K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $171K | $218K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $174K | $224K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $176K | $228K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $176K | $233K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $177K | $237K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $180K | $242K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $182K | $244K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $185K | $246K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $187K | $250K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $191K | $256K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $196K | $257K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $199K | $263K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $208K | $275K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $217K | $289K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $226K | $306K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $227K | $320K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $228K | $336K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $242K | $360K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $254K | $381K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $256K | $384K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $259K | $379K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $259K | $376K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $265K | $379K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $272K | $385K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $276K | $388K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $280K | $391K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $284K | $394K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $287K | $394K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $293K | $392K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $297K | $389K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $297K | $384K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $300K | $382K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $302K | $381K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $303K | $379K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $306K | $377K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $311K | $376K | $366K |
More about each city
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.