SalaryCompareTool

Baltimore, MD vs Reading, PA

Moving from Baltimore to Reading? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($405,877 → $312,348 median home) and taxes.

Baltimore vs Reading at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Baltimore, MD Reading, PA Cost-of-living index Baltimore, MD — Cost-of-living index: 103 103 Reading, PA — Cost-of-living index: 96 96 Median home price Baltimore, MD — Median home price: $406k $406k Reading, PA — Median home price: $312k $312k Price per sqft Baltimore, MD — Price per sqft: $214 $214 Reading, PA — Price per sqft: $179 $179 Median rent Baltimore, MD — Median rent: $1,919 $1,919 Reading, PA — Median rent: $1,505 $1,505 Combined sales tax Baltimore, MD — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Reading, PA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Property tax rate Baltimore, MD — Property tax rate: 1.04% 1.04% Reading, PA — Property tax rate: 1.86% 1.86% Violent crime /100k Baltimore, MD — Violent crime /100k: 450 450 Reading, PA — Violent crime /100k: 390 390 Electricity ¢/kWh Baltimore, MD — Electricity ¢/kWh: 22.1 22.1 Reading, PA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.5 21.5 Avg commute (min) Baltimore, MD — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Reading, PA — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F Baltimore, MD — Avg summer high °F: 88° 88° Reading, PA — Avg summer high °F: 85° 85° Avg winter low °F Baltimore, MD — Avg winter low °F: 27° 27° Reading, PA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Baltimore, MD, you'd need about $93,489 in Reading, PA (−$6,511).

Livability — Baltimore, MD: 57 · Reading, PA: 65 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,341 sqft in Baltimore vs 2,801 sqft in Reading ($214 vs $179 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryBaltimore, MDReading, PADifference
Housing $23,028 $18,060 −$4,968
Groceries $5,075 $4,915 −$160
Transportation $3,685 $3,440 −$245
Utilities $2,388 $2,316 −$72
Insurance $1,400 $1,200 −$200
Taxes $11,584 $9,491 −$2,093
Total $47,160 $39,422 −$7,738

Side by side

MetricBaltimore, MDReading, PA
Cost-of-living index103.296.5
Unemployment rate4.86%5.38%
Population growth (5-yr)1.7%3.1%
Air quality (median AQI)4743
Big Mac price (est.)$5.87$5.49
Median home price$405,877$312,348
Home price ÷ income4.3×4.2×
1-yr home appreciation0.8%2.6%
Price per square foot$214$179
Median rent$1,919$1,505
Total tax burden (% income)11.3%10.6%
Combined sales tax6.00%6.34%
Capital gains tax5.75%3.07%
Property tax rate1.04%1.86%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$7,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$16,000$12,000
Vehicle property taxNoneNone
Avg commute (min)3025
Home insurance / yr$1,400$1,200
Auto insurance / yr$1,900$1,600
Flood insurance / yr$750$650
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh22.121.5
Gas $/gal3.303.55
Violent crime /100k450390
Avg summer high °F8885
Avg winter low °F2722
Permit difficulty (1–5)43
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