SalaryCompareTool

Los Angeles, CA vs Reading, PA

Moving from Los Angeles to Reading? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($968,608 → $312,348 median home) and taxes.

Los Angeles vs Reading at a glance

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

Los Angeles, CA Reading, PA Cost-of-living index Los Angeles, CA — Cost-of-living index: 115 115 Reading, PA — Cost-of-living index: 96 96 Median home price Los Angeles, CA — Median home price: $969k $969k Reading, PA — Median home price: $312k $312k Price per sqft Los Angeles, CA — Price per sqft: $646 $646 Reading, PA — Price per sqft: $179 $179 Median rent Los Angeles, CA — Median rent: $2,909 $2,909 Reading, PA — Median rent: $1,505 $1,505 Combined sales tax Los Angeles, CA — Combined sales tax: 8.8% 8.8% Reading, PA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Property tax rate Los Angeles, CA — Property tax rate: 0.69% 0.69% Reading, PA — Property tax rate: 1.86% 1.86% Violent crime /100k Los Angeles, CA — Violent crime /100k: 500 500 Reading, PA — Violent crime /100k: 390 390 Electricity ¢/kWh Los Angeles, CA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 35.3 35.3 Reading, PA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.5 21.5 Avg commute (min) Los Angeles, CA — Avg commute (min): 30 30 Reading, PA — Avg commute (min): 25 25 Avg summer high °F Los Angeles, CA — Avg summer high °F: 84° 84° Reading, PA — Avg summer high °F: 85° 85° Avg winter low °F Los Angeles, CA — Avg winter low °F: 45° 45° Reading, PA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Los Angeles, CA, you'd need about $84,067 in Reading, PA (−$15,933).

Livability — Los Angeles, CA: 42 · Reading, PA: 65 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 774 sqft in Los Angeles vs 2,801 sqft in Reading ($646 vs $179 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategoryLos Angeles, CAReading, PADifference
Housing $34,908 $18,060 −$16,848
Groceries $5,354 $4,915 −$439
Transportation $5,125 $3,440 −$1,685
Utilities $3,804 $2,316 −$1,488
Insurance $1,500 $1,200 −$300
Taxes $21,708 $9,491 −$12,217
Total $72,399 $39,422 −$32,977

Side by side

MetricLos Angeles, CAReading, PA
Cost-of-living index114.796.5
Unemployment rate6.59%5.38%
Population growth (5-yr)-1.1%3.1%
Air quality (median AQI)8043
Big Mac price (est.)$6.53$5.49
Median home price$968,608$312,348
Home price ÷ income10.9×4.2×
1-yr home appreciation0.3%2.6%
Price per square foot$646$179
Median rent$2,909$1,505
Total tax burden (% income)13.5%10.6%
Combined sales tax8.82%6.34%
Capital gains tax13.30%3.07%
Property tax rate0.69%1.86%
Healthcare (annual)$7,200$7,000
Childcare (annual, infant)$19,000$12,000
Vehicle property tax0.65%None
Avg commute (min)3025
Home insurance / yr$1,500$1,200
Auto insurance / yr$2,400$1,600
Flood insurance / yr$750$650
Earthquake insurance / yr$950$100
Electricity ¢/kWh35.321.5
Gas $/gal4.853.55
Violent crime /100k500390
Avg summer high °F8485
Avg winter low °F4522
Permit difficulty (1–5)53
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