Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,030 in Cincinnati, OH versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Cincinnati, OH is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $51,707 in Cincinnati, OH and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 23% higher in Providence, RI. Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: Ohio vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Cincinnati vs Providence — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Cincinnati or Providence?
- Cincinnati, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Cincinnati than in Providence?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Cincinnati versus $41,000 in Providence.
- Which has lower taxes, Cincinnati or Providence?
- Cincinnati is taxed under Ohio's rules (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).