What is the cost of living in Reading, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Reading has an overall cost of living index of 162, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Reading has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Reading ranks as #87 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Reading ranks as the #26 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Reading, check out:
Reading Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Reading. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Reading is 107.
The Groceries index in Reading is 118.
The Health index in Reading is 275.
The Housing index in Reading is 112.
The Transportation index in Reading is 115.
The Utilities index in Reading is 116.
| Living Expense | Reading | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 162 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 118 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 275 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 115 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 116 | 114 | 100 |
Reading Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Reading, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Reading is $915,078.
The Median Rent in Reading is $1,991.
The Median Income in Reading is $165,912.
The Home Value To Income in Reading is 5.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Reading is 0.14x.
| Statistic | Reading | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $915,078 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,991 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $165,912 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.5x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.14x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Reading, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Reading Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Reading | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Reading Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Reading | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Reading Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Reading | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Reading Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Reading | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Reading Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Reading | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Reading SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Reading
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Reading. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.3x Reading.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.4x Reading.
Arlington, MA has a cost of living index of 173, 1.1x Reading.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.3x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Woburn, MA | 41,939 | 153 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.3x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.3x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.5x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,650 | 167 | 1.0x |
| Saugus, MA | 28,773 | 140 | 0.9x |
| Wakefield, MA | 27,793 | 157 | 1.0x |
