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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Premium market, smart picks: while Rhode Island trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Providence at index 114 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Rhode Island.
#1 Ranked: Providence — cost index 114, rent $2,187/mo, income $66,772
1 of 1 cities keep rent under 30% of $100K gross income
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
Premium market, smart picks: while Rhode Island trends above the national average, the gap between the most and least expensive cities here is wider than you'd think. Providence at index 114 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Rhode Island.
Here's Providence by the numbers — and there's a lot to like. Cost index: 114. Rent: $2,187/month. Income: $66,772/year. Home price: $420,051. Population: 190,792. The strongest category is Utilities at 105; the most expensive is Housing at 136. Translate that rent to annual numbers, and residents are costing renters $3,504 more per year vs. the national median. That's the kind of affordability that turns 'maybe someday' into 'next month.' If you've been scrolling through listings in high-cost metros and feeling defeated, look at these numbers again. Seriously. The difference between renting here and renting in a major coastal city could literally fund a retirement account. That's not hyperbole — run the math yourself. A thousand dollars a month saved, compounded over a decade, is a down payment on a house. In this city, that math actually works.
Rankings quantify the landscape. But the decision to move is personal. Use the spotlights above to zero in on 2-3 finalists, then run your actual salary through the calculator. The question isn't just "where is it cheapest?" — it's "where does my specific income buy the life I want?" Start here. Dig deeper on the linked city pages.
| Rank | City | Median Rent | Rent % of Gross | Cost Index | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | $2,187 | 26% | 114 | Details |
190,792 residents · Rhode Island
Why Providence ranks #1: the numbers tell a clear story. At 114 on the cost index, residents spend roughly 2% more than the typical American. Rent sits at $2,187/month while the median household pulls in $66,772/year. The Utilities category is particularly strong at 105, though Housing (136) lags behind. Home prices average $420,051 — $47,319 below the national median.
| City | State Tax | Sales Tax | Property Tax | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1Providence | 5.99% | 7% | 1.24% | $69,307 |
Providence ranks #1 in Rhode Island for this analysis with a cost index of 114 and median income of $66,772.
Yes. On a $100K salary in Providence, rent would consume about 26% of your gross monthly income. Financial experts recommend keeping rent under 30%. You're well within that guideline.
Our cost of living index uses real Zillow rent data as the foundation, indexed to 100 (national median). Sub-categories (housing, food, transport, utilities, healthcare) are derived from the overall index with regional adjustments. Data is updated monthly.
City data is refreshed monthly from Census Bureau population estimates, Zillow rent and home price indices, BLS salary data, and Tax Foundation tax rates. Last updated: 2026.
The median 1-bedroom rent in Providence is $2,187/month as of 2026, based on Zillow's Observed Rent Index. This is $292 above the national median of $1,895/month.
After federal taxes, FICA (7.65%), and 5.99% state income tax, estimated take-home on $100K in Providence is approximately $69,307/year ($5,776/month). After median rent of $2,187/month, you'd have roughly $43,063/year for all other expenses.
The median home price in Providence is $420,051, which is 6.3× the local median income. Most median-income households would stretch to buy at this ratio. The national median home price is $467,370.
Rhode Island has a 5.99% state income tax rate. Combined state and local sales tax averages 7%, and the effective property tax rate is 1.24%.
This ranking was generated using data current as of early 2026. Population and income data comes from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (5-year estimates). Rent and home price data is from Zillow's monthly releases. Tax rates are from the Tax Foundation's 2025 edition. Rankings are refreshed monthly.