Salary Comparison
Area: Reading vs Cambridge
Side-by-side salary, take-home pay, cost of living, and lifestyle score.
Reading, PA
$82,416/yr
Cambridge, MA
$103,130/yr
Our recommendation: Reading, PA
Reading offers $606 more per month in disposable income, giving a stronger financial outcome despite a lower gross salary.
Full Breakdown
Reading
Cambridge
Diff (A−B)
Annual Gross Salary
$82,416
$103,130
$20,714
A vs B
Monthly Take-Home
After estimated federal + state taxes
$5,014
$6,274
$1,260
A vs B
Cost of Living Index
Lower is more affordable. US avg = 100
86
152
-66 pts
A vs B
Monthly Living Costs
Housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare
$2,227
$4,093
$1,866
A vs B
Monthly Rent
$1,281
$2,650
$1,369
A vs B
Monthly Disposable
$2,787
$2,181
+$606
A vs B
Purchasing Power Score
Take-home ÷ living costs. Higher is better
2.25×
1.53×
+0.72×
A vs B
Lifestyle Score
8/10 (Comfortable)
6/10 (Moderate)
+2
A vs B
Reading — Full Details
Cambridge — Full Details
Salary estimates based on BLS metro data. Cost of living from regional price indices. All figures are estimates; verify with employers before making decisions.