Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Providence?

Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Providence?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $41,000 in Providence.

Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Providence?

Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax); Providence under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Louisville vs Providence Cost of Living 2026

Louisville

Kentucky

$1,060/mo est.

Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,060 in Louisville, KY versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Louisville, KY is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $64,731 in Louisville, KY and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 3% higher in Providence, RI. Kentucky has a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Louisville, KY

Providence, RI

Rent

Studio

$786

$1,116

+42% in Providence, RI

1 Bedroom

$877

$1,030

+17% in Providence, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,096

$1,323

+21% in Providence, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,299

$1,627

+25% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$221,500

$322,800

+46% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$64,731

$66,772

+3% in Providence, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,370

$53,680

+11% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

37.7 yr

32.9 yr

+4.8 yr in Louisville, KY

Homeownership

60.6%

41.2%

+19.4 pp in Louisville, KY

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.4%

34.7%

+1.3 pp in Providence, RI

Avg Commute

22.7 min

25.0 min

+2.3 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

763.4

282.4

+63% in Louisville, KY

Property Crime

3,536.6

1,665.6

+53% in Louisville, KY

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

58.2°F

51.6°F

+6.6°F in Louisville, KY

Annual Precipitation

44.9 in

47.2 in

+2.3 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.86/gal

+2% in Louisville, KY

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.0

29.5

+97% in Providence, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$29.48

$16.06

+46% in Louisville, KY

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 Louisville, KY

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 (KY / RI)

+1.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

3.50%

5.99%

+2.5 pp in RI

Louisville vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Louisville or Providence?: Louisville, KY is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,060 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Louisville than in Providence?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $35,000 a year in Louisville versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Louisville or Providence?: Louisville is taxed under Kentucky's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.50% and a 6% 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).