Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 53% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 47% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Cambridge, MA
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$1,116
+50% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,030
+59% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,323
+56% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,627
+51% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$322,800
+69% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$66,772
+47% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$53,680
+19% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
32.9 yr
+2.4 yr in Providence, RI
Homeownership
33.7%
41.2%
+7.5 pp in Providence, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
34.7%
+45.5 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
25.0 min
+1.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
282.4
+35% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,665.6
+37% in Cambridge, MA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
51.6°F
+0.1°F in Providence, RI
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
47.2 in
+3.4 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.2
+1% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$25.75
+16% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / RI)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
5.99%
+3.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Providence?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 53% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Providence?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).