Cost of Living Comparison Between Reading, PA and Rochester, NY Cost of Living Comparison Between Reading, PA and Rochester, NY

😐 Solo nomad: Reading, PA is 12.1% more expensive than Rochester, NY without rent, and 7.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Reading, PA is 5.5% more expensive than Rochester, NY without rent, and 8.7% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.15 $18.15
$25.21 $25.21
-28.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.2 $66.2
$81.5 $81.5
-18.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.68 $11.68
$10.41 $10.41
12.20%
Cappuccino
$4.59 $4.59
$5.78 $5.78
-20.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$2.58 $2.58
-5.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.5 $1.5
$2.79 $2.79
-46.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.69 $6.69
$4.02 $4.02
66.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.05 $8.05
$6.1 $6.1
31.97%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 $1.28
$0.97 $0.97
31.96%
White Bread (500g)
$3.31 $3.31
$2.87 $2.87
15.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.87 $3.87
$4.89 $4.89
-20.86%
Eggs
$4.97 $4.97
$4.02 $4.02
23.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.33 $13.33
$11.04 $11.04
20.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$7.82 $7.82
48.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.35 $17.35
$15.58 $15.58
11.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.37 $4.37
$5.49 $5.49
-20.40%
Banana (1kg)
$1.7 $1.7
$1.31 $1.31
29.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.05 $4.05
$4.18 $4.18
-3.11%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.3 $3.3
$4.83 $4.83
-31.68%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.56 $3.56
-27.81%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 $2.67
$3.26 $3.26
-18.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$2.05 $2.05
11.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79 $1.79
$1.79 $1.79
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.72 $9.72
$14.82 $14.82
-34.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.23 $14.23
$9.85 $9.85
44.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 $1.69
$2.43 $2.43
-30.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.85 $3.85
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.98 $1.98
$1.99 $1.99
-0.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$44.17 $44.17
$46.47 $46.47
-4.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.94 $2.94
$2.46 $2.46
19.51%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.18 $2.18
$1.81 $1.81
20.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.18 $24.18
$21.32 $21.32
13.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.9 $0.9
$0.97 $0.97
-7.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K $20.1K
$29.5K $29.5K
-31.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9K $19.9K
$25K $25K
-20.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 $127
$148 $148
-14.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.71 $44.71
$50.9 $50.9
-12.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.5 $53.5
$65.9 $65.9
-18.72%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.83 $42.83
$44.75 $44.75
-4.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$44.87 $44.87
-
Cinema Ticket
$17.29 $17.29
$13.42 $13.42
28.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,078 $1,078
$1,362 $1,362
-20.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24K $24K
$29.7K $29.7K
-19.14%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6 $73.6
$40.77 $40.77
80.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.1 $62.1
$33.18 $33.18
87.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 $76.5
$83.1 $83.1
-8.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$87.4 $87.4
54.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,666 $1,666
$1,561 $1,561
6.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,409 $1,409
$1,199 $1,199
17.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 $2,136
$2,221 $2,221
-3.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,941 $1,941
$2,261 $2,261
-14.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,797 $1,797
$1,429 $1,429
25.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,806 $1,806
$1,378 $1,378
31.01%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Reading, PA
Rochester, NY
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,851 $2,851
$3,339 $3,339
-14.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.62
6.57
0.76%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Reading, PA: October 29, 2025

Last update for Rochester, NY: October 27, 2025

Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.