Reading, PA vs Atlantic City, NJ: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Atlantic City, NJ is 1.9% more expensive than Reading, PA (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Reading works out to about $76,400 in Atlantic City, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 15.5% more in Atlantic City. Goods are 0.9% lower and other services 0.2% higher.
- Typical asking rent is $2,049 a month in Atlantic City and $1,551 in Reading, $5,976 a year more in Atlantic City (Zillow, September 2026).
- A typical home is valued at about $383,000 in Atlantic City and $311,000 in Reading.
- The gap has widened since 2019, when Atlantic City was 0.1% 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: 15.5% higher in Atlantic City than in Reading
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
All items Reading, PA: 97.1 Atlantic City, NJ: 98.9
Goods Reading, PA: 100.7 Atlantic City, NJ: 99.8
Housing (rents) Reading, PA: 85.4 Atlantic City, NJ: 98.7
Utilities Reading, PA: 108.2 Atlantic City, NJ: 109.2
Other services Reading, PA: 97.7 Atlantic City, NJ: 97.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 98.9 |
| Goods | 100.7 | 99.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 85.4 | 98.7 |
| Utilities | 108.2 | 109.2 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.9 |
| Category | Reading | Atlantic City | Atlantic City vs Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 97.1 | 98.9 | +1.9% |
| Goods | 100.7 | 99.8 | −0.9% |
| Housing (rents) | 85.4 | 98.7 | +15.5% |
| Utilities | 108.2 | 109.2 | +0.9% |
| Other services | 97.7 | 97.9 | +0.2% |
| Typical asking rent | $1,551 | $2,049 | +32.1% |
| Typical home value | $311,000 | $383,000 | +23.2% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Reading | $75,000 | $76,400 | +1.9% |
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 Atlantic City has narrowed since 2008: 11.7 points then, 1.8 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
US average = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 99.0 | 110.7 |
| 2009 | 99.3 | 106.9 |
| 2010 | 98.1 | 108.8 |
| 2011 | 97.6 | 106.2 |
| 2012 | 97.8 | 104.6 |
| 2013 | 99.9 | 102.0 |
| 2014 | 97.3 | 102.7 |
| 2015 | 98.1 | 103.2 |
| 2016 | 98.7 | 102.6 |
| 2017 | 99.0 | 100.9 |
| 2018 | 98.4 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 97.4 | 97.4 |
| 2020 | 96.0 | 101.2 |
| 2021 | 96.1 | 96.0 |
| 2022 | 96.3 | 100.2 |
| 2023 | 96.5 | 98.9 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 98.9 |
Goods
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.0 | 108.9 |
| 2009 | 101.1 | 108.1 |
| 2010 | 98.0 | 105.2 |
| 2011 | 97.8 | 107.0 |
| 2012 | 97.6 | 103.2 |
| 2013 | 97.8 | 98.6 |
| 2014 | 97.9 | 97.4 |
| 2015 | 99.3 | 100.2 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 102.7 |
| 2017 | 99.4 | 99.0 |
| 2018 | 100.4 | 100.4 |
| 2019 | 97.1 | 97.2 |
| 2020 | 98.8 | 99.1 |
| 2021 | 95.7 | 95.5 |
| 2022 | 97.6 | 96.7 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 97.8 |
| 2024 | 100.7 | 99.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 85.6 | 133.0 |
| 2009 | 87.1 | 109.7 |
| 2010 | 90.0 | 122.7 |
| 2011 | 90.1 | 114.7 |
| 2012 | 93.3 | 112.7 |
| 2013 | 98.3 | 109.0 |
| 2014 | 93.2 | 113.2 |
| 2015 | 87.4 | 115.7 |
| 2016 | 89.9 | 107.6 |
| 2017 | 84.4 | 96.5 |
| 2018 | 92.8 | 106.2 |
| 2019 | 89.5 | 93.2 |
| 2020 | 79.1 | 106.8 |
| 2021 | 83.1 | 87.1 |
| 2022 | 90.2 | 112.3 |
| 2023 | 82.7 | 99.4 |
| 2024 | 85.4 | 98.7 |
Utilities
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 111.9 | 119.0 |
| 2009 | 115.2 | 127.1 |
| 2010 | 109.9 | 128.6 |
| 2011 | 112.3 | 128.0 |
| 2012 | 106.1 | 126.8 |
| 2013 | 105.5 | 126.1 |
| 2014 | 104.4 | 106.9 |
| 2015 | 103.9 | 101.5 |
| 2016 | 107.2 | 103.2 |
| 2017 | 111.7 | 103.7 |
| 2018 | 114.7 | 110.7 |
| 2019 | 115.7 | 114.8 |
| 2020 | 112.9 | 114.5 |
| 2021 | 110.7 | 110.3 |
| 2022 | 110.8 | 105.0 |
| 2023 | 118.6 | 108.2 |
| 2024 | 108.2 | 109.2 |
Other services
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
US = 100
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Reading, PA | Atlantic City, NJ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.1 | 102.0 |
| 2009 | 101.3 | 103.6 |
| 2010 | 99.9 | 103.4 |
| 2011 | 98.8 | 100.4 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 99.6 |
| 2014 | 97.8 | 101.1 |
| 2015 | 100.4 | 99.7 |
| 2016 | 101.0 | 100.3 |
| 2017 | 102.5 | 104.1 |
| 2018 | 98.0 | 98.0 |
| 2019 | 98.8 | 98.6 |
| 2020 | 99.2 | 99.2 |
| 2021 | 100.0 | 99.8 |
| 2022 | 96.6 | 97.0 |
| 2023 | 98.6 | 99.0 |
| 2024 | 97.7 | 97.9 |
Rent and home values
Typical asking rent: $2,049 in Atlantic City vs $1,551 in Reading
Typical asking rent for a new lease, dollars per month. Quarterly.
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- 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 | Atlantic City, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $808 | $1,011 | $1,145 |
| Jun 2015 | $843 | $1,019 | $1,170 |
| Sep 2015 | $859 | $1,004 | $1,181 |
| Dec 2015 | $836 | $1,001 | $1,182 |
| Mar 2016 | $852 | $1,057 | $1,195 |
| Jun 2016 | $870 | $1,042 | $1,219 |
| Sep 2016 | $872 | $1,007 | $1,225 |
| Dec 2016 | $869 | $1,010 | $1,222 |
| Mar 2017 | $883 | $1,051 | $1,245 |
| Jun 2017 | $885 | $1,056 | $1,270 |
| Sep 2017 | $901 | $1,038 | $1,276 |
| Dec 2017 | $892 | $1,065 | $1,275 |
| Mar 2018 | $916 | $1,098 | $1,296 |
| Jun 2018 | $933 | $1,099 | $1,320 |
| Sep 2018 | $936 | $1,091 | $1,327 |
| Dec 2018 | $927 | $1,100 | $1,329 |
| Mar 2019 | $945 | $1,139 | $1,349 |
| Jun 2019 | $965 | $1,127 | $1,376 |
| Sep 2019 | $969 | $1,115 | $1,383 |
| Dec 2019 | $970 | $1,141 | $1,381 |
| Mar 2020 | $969 | $1,176 | $1,402 |
| Jun 2020 | $1,011 | $1,163 | $1,406 |
| Sep 2020 | $1,037 | $1,230 | $1,410 |
| Dec 2020 | $1,054 | $1,223 | $1,407 |
| Mar 2021 | $1,086 | $1,288 | $1,443 |
| Jun 2021 | $1,145 | $1,396 | $1,512 |
| Sep 2021 | $1,190 | $1,442 | $1,590 |
| Dec 2021 | $1,185 | $1,487 | $1,622 |
| Mar 2022 | $1,216 | $1,575 | $1,661 |
| Jun 2022 | $1,253 | $1,659 | $1,721 |
| Sep 2022 | $1,304 | $1,647 | $1,748 |
| Dec 2022 | $1,291 | $1,658 | $1,735 |
| Mar 2023 | $1,344 | $1,684 | $1,757 |
| Jun 2023 | $1,384 | $1,753 | $1,785 |
| Sep 2023 | $1,381 | $1,735 | $1,797 |
| Dec 2023 | $1,389 | $1,808 | $1,786 |
| Mar 2024 | $1,408 | $1,823 | $1,807 |
| Jun 2024 | $1,454 | $1,849 | $1,837 |
| Sep 2024 | $1,457 | $1,832 | $1,845 |
| Dec 2024 | $1,480 | $1,853 | $1,836 |
| Mar 2025 | $1,491 | $1,922 | $1,860 |
| Jun 2025 | $1,490 | $1,956 | $1,880 |
| Sep 2025 | $1,508 | $1,923 | $1,881 |
| Dec 2025 | $1,510 | $1,944 | $1,873 |
| Mar 2026 | $1,523 | $2,052 | $1,894 |
| Jun 2026 | $1,546 | $2,024 | $1,921 |
| Sep 2026 | $1,551 | $2,049 | $1,932 |
Typical home value: $383,000 in Atlantic City vs $311,000 in Reading
Typical home value, dollars. Quarterly.
- Reading, PA
- Atlantic City, NJ
- 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 | Atlantic City, NJ | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2015 | $155K | $190K | $189K |
| Jun 2015 | $155K | $189K | $192K |
| Sep 2015 | $157K | $188K | $195K |
| Dec 2015 | $158K | $187K | $199K |
| Mar 2016 | $159K | $185K | $202K |
| Jun 2016 | $160K | $182K | $204K |
| Sep 2016 | $161K | $178K | $206K |
| Dec 2016 | $163K | $174K | $209K |
| Mar 2017 | $164K | $174K | $213K |
| Jun 2017 | $166K | $175K | $216K |
| Sep 2017 | $168K | $178K | $219K |
| Dec 2017 | $171K | $181K | $223K |
| Mar 2018 | $174K | $181K | $227K |
| Jun 2018 | $176K | $183K | $230K |
| Sep 2018 | $176K | $188K | $234K |
| Dec 2018 | $177K | $192K | $236K |
| Mar 2019 | $180K | $197K | $239K |
| Jun 2019 | $182K | $200K | $242K |
| Sep 2019 | $185K | $202K | $244K |
| Dec 2019 | $187K | $206K | $247K |
| Mar 2020 | $191K | $211K | $252K |
| Jun 2020 | $196K | $214K | $255K |
| Sep 2020 | $199K | $218K | $260K |
| Dec 2020 | $208K | $231K | $271K |
| Mar 2021 | $217K | $243K | $282K |
| Jun 2021 | $226K | $256K | $296K |
| Sep 2021 | $227K | $268K | $306K |
| Dec 2021 | $228K | $277K | $314K |
| Mar 2022 | $242K | $288K | $330K |
| Jun 2022 | $254K | $300K | $346K |
| Sep 2022 | $256K | $301K | $348K |
| Dec 2022 | $259K | $303K | $345K |
| Mar 2023 | $259K | $311K | $343K |
| Jun 2023 | $265K | $319K | $347K |
| Sep 2023 | $272K | $328K | $352K |
| Dec 2023 | $276K | $334K | $354K |
| Mar 2024 | $280K | $341K | $357K |
| Jun 2024 | $284K | $350K | $361K |
| Sep 2024 | $287K | $355K | $361K |
| Dec 2024 | $293K | $360K | $363K |
| Mar 2025 | $297K | $364K | $364K |
| Jun 2025 | $297K | $367K | $362K |
| Sep 2025 | $300K | $368K | $362K |
| Dec 2025 | $302K | $372K | $364K |
| Mar 2026 | $303K | $378K | $366K |
| Jun 2026 | $306K | $381K | $365K |
| Sep 2026 | $311K | $383K | $366K |
More about each city
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.