CostIndexUSA

Reading, PA vs Tucson, AZ Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

≈ Equal CostPA
Reading
97.1
overall index
$1,400/mo rent
AZ
Tucson
96.9
overall index
$1,475/mo rent

Reading and Tucson have nearly identical costs of living.

Category Breakdown

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

🏠 Housing+7.5%
Reading
85.4
Tucson
91.8
🛒 Groceries4.5%
Reading
100.7
Tucson
96.2
🚗 Transportation+2.1%
Reading
102.6
Tucson
104.8
🏥 Healthcare+2.2%
Reading
92.8
Tucson
94.8
Utilities17.3%
Reading
108.2
Tucson
89.5

Salary Equivalency Calculator

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

$
Equivalent salary in Tucson, AZ
$79,800
$200 less needed in Tucson

Formula: salary × (96.9 ÷ 97.1) = salary × 0.9979. 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×

Tucson, AZ

Median Home Price
$338,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,475
Housing Index
91.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
19.1×

Tucson has 7.5% higher housing costs compared to Reading.

Income & Job Market

Reading, PA

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

Tucson, AZ

Median Household Income
$69,800
Per Capita Income
$39,800
Unemployment Rate
4.6%
Population
542,629
Top Industries
MilitaryEducationHealthcareTourismManufacturing

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)

Tucson, AZ
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

75% 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.