Is Providence expensive to live in?

Providence is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,030 per month ranks #65 of 112 and is 5% lower than the $1,080 median.

What is the average rent in Providence?

Average rent in Providence, RI runs a studio around $1,116, a one-bedroom around $1,030, a two-bedroom around $1,323, a three-bedroom around $1,627 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Providence?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,030 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $66,772.

How much does it cost to live in Providence per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Providence is about $1,310 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Providence, RI

Population 190,214 · Rhode Island

~$1,310/mo est.1BR $1,030Home $322,800

Photo: Rafael Rodrigues / Unsplash

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The cost of living in Providence, RI is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,030 a month — 5% lower than the $1,080 median across the 112 large US cities we track. Studios average $1,116 and two-bedrooms $1,323.

Median household income here is $66,772, about the same as the $69,423 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,310 before food and transport. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,030

Studio

$1,116

1 Bedroom

$1,030

2 Bedroom

$1,323

3 Bedroom

$1,627

Buying a Home$322,800

Median Home Value

$322,800

Income$66,772

Median Household Income

$66,772

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.5¢/kWh

Electricity

29.5¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$16.06/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-05-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.86/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.86/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-17.

State Taxes (RI)7% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.99%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime282.4 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

282.4

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,665.6

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Providence Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 32.9 yrs

Median Age

32.9 yrs

Homeownership

41.2%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.7%

Avg Commute

25.0 min

Climate51.6°F

Avg Annual Temperature

51.6°F

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

Providence cost of living — FAQ

Is Providence expensive to live in?: Providence is around the middle of the 112 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,030 per month ranks #65 of 112 and is 5% lower than the $1,080 median.
What is the average rent in Providence?: Average rent in Providence, RI runs a studio around $1,116, a one-bedroom around $1,030, a two-bedroom around $1,323, a three-bedroom around $1,627 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Providence?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,030 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $66,772.
How much does it cost to live in Providence per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Providence is about $1,310 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Providence with nearby cities

Providence vs Boston Providence vs Manchester Providence vs Bridgeport Providence vs Portland Providence vs New York City Providence vs Newark

Nearby cities

Boston, MA 41 mi Manchester, NH 81 mi Bridgeport, CT 102 mi Portland, ME 140 mi New York City, NY 155 mi Newark, NJ 162 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.