Living Cost Compare
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Raleigh

North Carolina

$1,510/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in Providence, RI versus $1,510 in Raleigh, NC. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Raleigh, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $82,424 in Raleigh, NC — about 19% higher in Raleigh, NC. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Providence, RI
Raleigh, NC

Rent

Studio
$1,116
$1,301
+17% in Raleigh, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,030
$1,323
+28% in Raleigh, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,462
+11% in Raleigh, NC
3 Bedroom
$1,627
$1,715
+5% in Raleigh, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,800
$377,800
+17% in Raleigh, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$66,772
$82,424
+23% in Raleigh, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$51,990
+3% in Providence, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.9 yr
34.7 yr
+1.8 yr in Raleigh, NC
Homeownership
41.2%
51.2%
+10.0 pp in Raleigh, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.7%
52.9%
+18.2 pp in Raleigh, NC
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.4 min
+1.6 min in Providence, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
282.4
491.5
+74% in Raleigh, NC
Property Crime
1,665.6
2,838.4
+70% in Raleigh, NC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.6°F
60.6°F
+9.0°F in Raleigh, NC
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
46.0 in
+1.2 in in Providence, RI

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)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.5
15.1
+49% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.06
$27.56
+72% in Raleigh, NC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Providence, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Providence, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Raleigh, NC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Providence, RI
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Providence, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Providence, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / NC)
7%
4.75%
+2.3 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
3.99%
+2.0 pp in RI

Providence vs Raleigh — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Raleigh?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Raleigh, NC's $1,510, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Raleigh?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $53,000 in Raleigh.
Which has lower taxes, Providence or Raleigh?
Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Raleigh under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).