Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,310 in Providence, RI versus $1,300 in Salt Lake City, UT. Overall, Salt Lake City, UT is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Providence, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.
Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $74,925 in Salt Lake City, UT — about 11% higher in Salt Lake City, UT. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Rocky Mountain (PADD 4).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Providence vs Salt Lake City — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Salt Lake City?
- Salt Lake City, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Providence, RI's $1,310, mainly because of electricity costs.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Salt Lake City?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $47,000 in Salt Lake City.
- Which has lower taxes, Providence or Salt Lake City?
- Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Salt Lake City under Utah's (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).