CostIndexUSA

Newport News, VA vs Reading, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

VA
Newport News
97.9
overall index
$1,800/mo rent
More AffordablePA
Reading
97.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent

Reading is slightly cheaper than Newport News — 0.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Newport News, you would need $79,300 in Reading. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing14.4%
Newport News
99.8
Reading
85.4
🛒 Groceries+4.0%
Newport News
96.8
Reading
100.7
🚗 Transportation0.9%
Newport News
103.5
Reading
102.6
🏥 Healthcare1.0%
Newport News
93.7
Reading
92.8
Utilities+20.8%
Newport News
89.6
Reading
108.2

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Reading, PA
$79,300
$700 less needed in Reading

Formula: salary × (97.1 ÷ 97.9) = salary × 0.9918. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Newport News, VA

Median Home Price
$360,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,800
Housing Index
99.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.7×

Reading, PA

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

Newport News has 14.4% lower housing costs compared to Reading.

Income & Job Market

Newport News, VA

Median Household Income
$79,300
Per Capita Income
$45,200
Unemployment Rate
4.3%
Population
186,247
Top Industries
MilitaryManufacturingHealthcareGovernmentRetail

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).

Newport News, VA
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% 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.