Living Cost Compare
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,310 in Providence, RI. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 9% higher in Providence, RI. Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Philadelphia, PA
Providence, RI

Rent

Studio
$1,126
$1,116
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,189
$1,030
+13% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,394
$1,323
+5% in Philadelphia, PA
3 Bedroom
$1,406
$1,627
+16% in Providence, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$232,400
$322,800
+39% in Providence, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$60,698
$66,772
+10% in Providence, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,310
$53,680
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.1 yr
32.9 yr
+2.2 yr in Philadelphia, PA
Homeownership
52.3%
41.2%
+11.1 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.6%
34.7%
+0.1 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
32.0 min
25.0 min
+7.0 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
917.1
282.4
+69% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
4,615.3
1,665.6
+64% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
57.1°F
51.6°F
+5.5°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
48.5 in
47.2 in
+1.3 in in Philadelphia, PA

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)
$2.50
—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
21.6
29.5
+37% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$19.17
$16.06
+16% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (PA / RI)
6%
7%
+1.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
3.07%
5.99%
+2.9 pp in RI

Philadelphia vs Providence — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Philadelphia or Providence?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Philadelphia than in Providence?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $48,000 a year in Philadelphia versus $41,000 in Providence.
Which has lower taxes, Philadelphia or Providence?
Philadelphia is taxed under Pennsylvania's rules (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% 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).