Living Cost Compare
Providence

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Providence, RI versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Providence, RI is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $66,772 in Providence, RI and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 1% higher in Worcester, MA. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Providence, RI
Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio
$1,116
$1,087
+3% in Providence, RI
1 Bedroom
$1,030
$1,028
+0% in Providence, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,323
$1,476
+12% in Worcester, MA
3 Bedroom
$1,627
$1,675
+3% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,800
$339,500
+5% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$66,772
$67,544
+1% in Worcester, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$57,830
+8% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
32.9 yr
34.1 yr
+1.2 yr in Worcester, MA
Homeownership
41.2%
42.4%
+1.2 pp in Worcester, MA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
34.7%
34.1%
+0.6 pp in Providence, RI
Avg Commute
25.0 min
25.1 min
+0.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
282.4
640.2
+127% in Worcester, MA
Property Crime
1,665.6
1,580.3
+5% in Providence, RI

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
47.9°F
+3.7°F in Providence, RI
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
48.1 in
+0.9 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$4.07/gal
+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.2
29.6
+1% in Worcester, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.75
$30.66
+19% in Worcester, MA

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 (RI / MA)
7%
6.25%
+0.8 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
9.00%
+3.0 pp in MA

Providence vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Providence or Worcester?
Providence, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Providence than in Worcester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Providence versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Providence or Worcester?
Providence is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).