Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $990 in Fayetteville, AR versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.
Median household income is $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 12% higher in Providence, RI. Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — South vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Fayetteville vs Providence — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Fayetteville or Providence?
- Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Fayetteville than in Providence?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $33,000 a year in Fayetteville versus $41,000 in Providence.
- Which has lower taxes, Fayetteville or Providence?
- Fayetteville is taxed under Arkansas's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).