Cost of living in Providence, RI Livability score 58 · cost-of-living index 101.5 (US = 100)
How Providence compares Where Providence falls within the range of all 200 metros (marker = this city).
Cost-of-living index (US=100) 85 118 Cost-of-living index (US=100): 102 — range 85 to 118 across all metros 102 Median home price $149k $1610k Median home price: $525k — range $149k to $1610k across all metros $525k Price per sqft (more house = lower) $88 $1074 Price per sqft (more house = lower): $328 — range $88 to $1074 across all metros $328 Combined sales tax 0.0% 11.5% Combined sales tax: 7.0% — range 0.0% to 11.5% across all metros 7.0% Property tax rate 0.28% 2.76% Property tax rate: 1.31% — range 0.28% to 2.76% across all metros 1.31% Violent crime (per 100k) 110 1,000 Violent crime (per 100k): 240 — range 110 to 1,000 across all metros 240 Electricity (¢/kWh) 12.3 46.6 Electricity (¢/kWh): 28.3 — range 12.3 to 46.6 across all metros 28.3 Avg summer high (°F) 65° 104° Avg summer high (°F): 82° — range 65° to 104° across all metros 82° Avg winter low (°F) -2° 72° Avg winter low (°F): 21° — range -2° to 72° across all metros 21° Map of Providence Grocery stores, parks, golf courses and more — real listings. Toggle categories in the legend.
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Cost of living Metric Value US rank Cost-of-living index (US=100) 101.5 #151 of 200 Grocery index (US=100) 98.4 #147 of 200 Big Mac price (est.) $5.78 #151 of 200 Median household income $81,136 #55 of 200 Median wage (all occupations) $45,920 #35 of 200
Economy Metric Value US rank Unemployment rate 5.82% #145 of 200 Population growth (5-yr) +3.6% #107 of 200
Housing — what your money buys Metric Value US rank Median home price $524,867 #168 of 200 Home price ÷ income (affordability) 6.5× #174 of 200 1-yr home appreciation +3.1% #45 of 200 Price per square foot $328 #179 of 200 Typical home size (implied) 1,600 sqft Median rent (monthly) $2,163 #170 of 200 Homes for sale (inventory) 2,912 Median days on market 10 #52 of 200
Taxes Metric Value US rank Total tax burden (est. % of income) 11.4% #147 of 200 Combined sales tax 7.00% #64 of 200 State income tax (top rate) 5.99% Capital gains tax 5.99% #139 of 200 High earners No special surtax Effective property tax rate 1.31% #133 of 200 Median property tax paid $4,681 #170 of 200
Healthcare & childcare Metric Value US rank Healthcare (annual, single adult) $7,600 #179 of 200 Childcare (annual, infant, center) $13,000 #131 of 200
Vehicles & commute Metric Value US rank Annual registration $100 #83 of 200 Vehicle property tax (annual) None #1 of 200 Emissions testing Required Emissions detail Required in major metro counties DMV & license offices 1 Avg commute to work 26 min #142 of 200
Utilities & fuel Metric Value US rank Electricity 28.3¢/kWh #164 of 200 Avg monthly electric bill $255 #164 of 200 Gasoline $3.35/gal #111 of 200 Natural gas (avg monthly bill) $92 #185 of 200 Water & sewer (avg monthly bill) $80 #45 of 200 Home internet (avg monthly bill) $67 #10 of 200
Insurance Metric Value US rank Home insurance (annual) $1,700 #96 of 200 Auto insurance (annual) $2,100 #126 of 200
Disaster risk & supplemental insurance Metric Value US rank Main natural hazards Notable hazards: hurricanes, flooding — separate flood/quake/windstorm policies may be needed. Flood insurance (annual, NFIP) $900 #152 of 200 Earthquake insurance (annual) $100 #1 of 200
Climate & air quality Metric Value US rank Air quality (median AQI, lower=cleaner) 42 #1 of 200 Cooling degree-days (AC load) 600 #14 of 200 Heating degree-days (heat load) 5,700 #141 of 200 Avg summer high 82°F #10 of 200 Avg winter low 21°F #146 of 200 Annual precipitation 47.5" #146 of 200 Annual snowfall 36.6" #150 of 200 Sunshine (% of possible) 56% #132 of 200 Plant hardiness zone 6b Frost window 04-20 → 10-20
Safety Metric Value US rank Violent crime (per 100k) 240 #13 of 200 Property crime (per 100k) 1,500 #32 of 200
Local amenities & recreation Metric Value US rank Grocery stores 18 #180 of 200 Parks 45 Hiking areas 3 Golf courses 4 Shooting ranges 2 Lakes 5
Permits Metric Value US rank Building permit difficulty (1–5) 4 #147 of 200 Permit detail Difficult; zoning + review
US rank = this metro's position among all 200 metros (1 = best: cheapest / safest / highest income, etc.). Childcare is a family cost, not included in the salary-equivalence total.
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Estimates for guidance only — not financial or legal advice. Live/official data:
cost-of-living & grocery (BEA RPP); home price, rent, inventory, days-on-market (Zillow);
income & property tax (US Census ACS); electricity (US EIA); plant-hardiness (USDA);
crime (FBI UCR); local grocery, park, hiking, golf, shooting-range, lake & DMV
counts (Google Maps listings) via our own scraper.
Taxes (Tax Foundation) and insurance, emissions, permits, climate, wages and fuel use
sourced state/metro figures.