Living Cost Compare
Huntsville

Alabama

$1,090/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 $1,090 in Huntsville, AL versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. Overall, Huntsville, AL is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $70,778 in Huntsville, AL and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 6% higher in Huntsville, AL. Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntsville, AL
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$815
$1,116
+37% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$900
$1,030
+14% in Providence, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,080
$1,323
+23% in Providence, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,251
$1,627
+30% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$263,100
$322,800
+23% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$70,778
$66,772
+6% in Huntsville, AL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$51,740
$53,680
+4% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
32.9 yr
+3.5 yr in Huntsville, AL
Homeownership
58.1%
41.2%
+16.9 pp in Huntsville, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
46.2%
34.7%
+11.5 pp in Huntsville, AL
Avg Commute
19.3 min
25.0 min
+5.7 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
483.2
282.4
+42% in Huntsville, AL
Property Crime
2,395.7
1,665.6
+30% in Huntsville, AL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
62.1°F
51.6°F
+10.5°F in Huntsville, AL
Annual Precipitation
54.3 in
47.2 in
+7.2 in in Huntsville, AL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.62/gal
$3.94/gal
+9% in Providence, RI

Area: Gulf Coast (PADD 3) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
16.4
29.2
+78% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$24.06
$25.75
+7% in Providence, RI

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 Huntsville, AL
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 (AL / RI)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.00%
5.99%
+1.0 pp in RI

Huntsville vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntsville or Providence?
Huntsville, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,090 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Providence, RI's $1,330, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntsville than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $36,000 a year in Huntsville versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Huntsville or Providence?
Huntsville is taxed under Alabama's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).