Last updated on October 28, 2026

Average rent in
Reading, PA

Key takeaways for renters

  • Where Reading rent stands today

    Reading, PA rents slipped a modest 1.8% year over year, with a current median of $1,228/month. This decline amounts to $22 less per month compared to last year, while month over month, rents increased 4.2%.

  • Reading is 35.4% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, with 137 total rentals offering a smaller but accessible market for renters. This positions Reading as a value-oriented metro for those seeking lower-cost options.

  • Rent ranges by bedroom

    Studios rent for $862/month, 1-bedrooms for $1,025/month, and 2-bedrooms for $1,200/month, with 3-bedrooms at $1,462/month and 4+ bedrooms at $1,748/month. The $1,200 median for 2-bedrooms represents the mid-range cost for many renters in Reading, PA.

Median rent

Median rent in Reading

$1,227/mo

decreased by2%

vs previous year

The average rent in Reading is $1,227 per month as of October 2026. This is 35% below the national average rent, or $672 less per month.

$1.42

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in Reading

137

for rent on Zumper.com as of October 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of Reading rentals at each price point

75%56%38%19%0%
$0 - $750
$751 - $1,500
$1,501 - $2,250
$2,251 - $3,000
$3,001+

Rent trends in Reading, PA

Average rent prices in Reading have increased by 4% over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in Reading, PA

Rent prices in Reading vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Reading is $1,097, whereas a house costs $1,550. 1-bedroom apartments in Reading run $1,021 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,147.

Listings

Studio

$862

No Change

1%

1 bedroom

$1,025

3%

8%

2 bedroom

$1,200

No Change

4%

3 bedroom

$1,462

4%

6%

4 bedroom

$1,747

3%

4%

Studio

Average rent

$862

Last year

1%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$1,025

Last 30 days

3%

Last year

8%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$1,200

Last year

4%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$1,462

Last 30 days

4%

Last year

6%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$1,747

Last 30 days

3%

Last year

4%

The table above reflects average rent prices in Reading, PA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in Reading, PA compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in Reading and Akron by all bedroom counts and property types.

Reading

Median rent price$1,227
decreased by35%

lower than the national median

Median rent price$1,595
decreased by16%

lower than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Reading, PA is 23% lower than the median rent in Akron, PA.

Cost of living in Reading, PA

Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.

Expenses
accrued by most renters
Average cost
compared to national average
Goods & Services8% higher
Groceries2% lower
Health10% lower
Housing7% lower
Transportation2% higher
Utilities6% higher

Discover rentals in Reading, PA

Barley Square Apartments - Photo 1 of 1

4d ago

6.5

Good

Barley Square Apartments

125 S 2nd St, Reading, PA 19602

1–2 beds

1 bath

$289–$1,259

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
540 Court St - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

House for rent in Reading

READING, PA

540 Court St, Reading, PA 19601

Studio

0 baths

$400

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
1113 North 9th Street Reading PA 19604 - Photo 1 of 1

1d ago

8.3

Very good

1113 North 9th Street Reading PA 19604

1113 N 9th St, Reading, PA 19604

1–2 beds

1 bath

$800–$950

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.
614 Schuylkill Ave #06 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

Greenwich apartment for rent in Reading

614 Schuylkill Ave #06, Reading, PA 19601

2 beds

1 bath

$850

Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.

Stay up to date with rental market insights

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for Reading, PA

Quick answers to common questions about the Reading rental market.

How much is rent in Reading?

The average rent in Reading is $1,227 per month as of October 24, 2026.

Is rent up or down in Reading?

Average rent prices in Reading have increased by 4% over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.

How does Reading rent compare to the national average?

Rent in Reading is 35% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $672 less per month.

Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Reading?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Reading are 18th And Cotton ($1,050/mo), Centre Park ($1,100/mo), and Center City ($1,100/mo).

What salary do I need to afford rent in Reading?

To comfortably afford rent in Reading, you'd need to earn approximately $49,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in Reading?

January offers the best rental deals in Reading with prices roughly 17% lower than November's peak rates, while December sees the least competition from other renters.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

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