Living Cost Compare
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/mo est.

vs
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,560 in Charlotte, NC versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $78,438 in Charlotte, NC and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 15% higher in Charlotte, NC. North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Charlotte, NC
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$1,424
$1,116
+22% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,374
$1,030
+25% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,491
$1,323
+11% in Charlotte, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,663
$1,627
+2% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$351,500
$322,800
+8% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$78,438
$66,772
+15% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$49,990
$53,680
+7% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.4 yr
32.9 yr
+1.5 yr in Charlotte, NC
Homeownership
51.5%
41.2%
+10.3 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
47.4%
34.7%
+12.7 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
25.0 min
about equal

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
733.1
282.4
+61% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
3,718.9
1,665.6
+55% in Charlotte, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
59.9°F
51.6°F
+8.3°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
41.6 in
47.2 in
+5.5 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.20
—

Adult base one-way fare — CATS vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.1
29.5
+95% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.56
$16.06
+42% in Charlotte, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Providence, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Providence, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in Charlotte, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Providence, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Providence, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NC / RI)
4.75%
7%
+2.3 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.99%
5.99%
+2.0 pp in RI

Charlotte vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Charlotte or Providence?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Charlotte than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $55,000 a year in Charlotte versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Charlotte or Providence?
Charlotte is taxed under North Carolina's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).