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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 128 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Rhode Island.
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 128 is the standout — offering meaningful savings without leaving Rhode Island.
Providence comes in at #1. Rent is $2,187 — for better or worse — a month. Household income is $66,772. The cost of living index is 128. You get the picture.
Factor in the cost side, though, and the picture shifts. The 1 cities we track in Rhode Island paint a premium but nuanced picture. Average cost index: 128. Median rent: $2,187/month — we had to double-check this one — . Household income: $66,772. Rhode Island is known for smallest state, New England price tag — and the data backs that reputation with some caveats.
Bottom line: Providence leads this ranking for clear, data-backed reasons — but the "best" city depends on your priorities. Click into any city below to see the full detail page with 12-month trend charts, profession-specific salary data, and a breakdown of all five cost categories. If you're seriously considering a move, use our salary calculator to model your specific income against these numbers.
#1 Ranked: Providence — cost index 128, rent $2,187/mo, income $66,772
0 of 1 cities come in below the national cost-of-living average of 111
Data sourced from Census Bureau, Zillow, BLS, and Tax Foundation — current as of 2026
190,792 residents · Rhode Island
Providence comes in at #1. Rent is $2,187 a month. Household income is $66,772. The cost of living index is 128. That's more or less in line with the region.
| Rank | City | Cost Index | Median Rent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence | 128 | $2,187 | Details |
Providence ranks #1 in Rhode Island for this analysis with a cost index of 128 and median income of $66,772.
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.
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.