Living Cost Compare
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,310/mo est.

vs
Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 35% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $121,984 in Seattle, WA — about 45% higher in Seattle, WA. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Providence, RI
Seattle, WA

Rent

Studio
$1,116
$1,638
+47% in Seattle, WA
1 Bedroom
$1,030
$1,858
+80% in Seattle, WA
2 Bedroom
$1,323
$2,359
+78% in Seattle, WA
3 Bedroom
$1,627
$2,918
+79% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,800
$912,100
+183% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,772
$121,984
+83% in Seattle, WA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$72,610
+35% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.9 yr
35.5 yr
+2.6 yr in Seattle, WA
Homeownership
41.2%
44.2%
+3.0 pp in Seattle, WA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.7%
67.5%
+32.8 pp in Seattle, WA
Avg Commute
25.0 min
26.6 min
+1.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
282.4
788.6
+179% in Seattle, WA
Property Crime
1,665.6
5,108.8
+207% in Seattle, WA

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
53.5°F
+1.9°F in Seattle, WA
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
37.7 in
+9.5 in in Providence, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.31/gal
+38% in Seattle, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Seattle.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.75

Adult base one-way fare — — vs King County Metro (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.5
14.9
+49% in Providence, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$16.06
$20.41
+27% in Seattle, WA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Seattle, WA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Seattle, WA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Seattle, WA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Providence, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / WA)
7%
6.5%
+0.5 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
None
+6.0 pp in RI

Providence vs Seattle — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Seattle?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,310 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 35% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Seattle?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $74,000 in Seattle.
Which has lower taxes, Providence or Seattle?
Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Seattle under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).