Cost of living index, Providence
101.8
How expensive daily life is vs the US average of 100 (2024).
Providence sits about 1.8% above national prices.
Local salary guide, May 2025, as of May 15, 2026. Cost of living index, 2024. Sources stay in methodology · disclaimer.
- Cost of living (101.8) Based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data. Scores over 100 mean a city is more expensive than the U.S. national average.
- +1.8% vs US
- Metro
- Providence
- Area code
- 39300
Providence’s cost of living index is 101.8 (2024), about 1.8% above US-average prices. Housing & rent sits at 103.9, about 3.9% above the national housing index, and usually explains most of a metro’s price gap. A $90,000 salary at national prices maps to about $91,620 here for the same standard of living.
Everyday expenses in Providence
| Everyday expense | Providence | US avg |
|---|---|---|
| Overall cost of living | 101.8 | 100 |
| Groceries & goods | 97.1 | 100 |
| Housing & rent | 103.9 | 100 |
| Everyday services | 102.3 | 100 |
Cost of living index 2024, US average = 100.
What a US-average salary buys in Providence
| At US average | In Providence |
|---|---|
| $60,000 | $61,080 |
| $90,000 | $91,620 |
| $150,000 | $152,700 |
Target salary here = national salary × (101.8 ÷ 100). Index year 2024.
Top wages here
FAQ
- What is the cost of living in Providence?
- The cost of living index for Providence-Warwick, RI-MA is 101.8 (2024), versus a US average of 100 (+1.8%). Scores over 100 mean everyday life is more expensive than the national average.
- How is this different from CPI?
- CPI tracks how prices change over time. This cost of living index compares price levels across places in a given year versus the national average of 100, including housing, groceries & goods, and everyday services.
- How should I use this with local salaries?
- Pair local salary medians (May 2025) with this index. A $90,000 salary at US-average prices maps to about $91,620 in Providence for the same standard of living.
- Does this include taxes or housing alone?
- No. The overall index is a broad price-level measure. Everyday expense breakdowns show housing, groceries & goods, and services separately, but this is not a rent quote, tax estimate, or household budget.
What this covers
Includes
- Cost of living index for everyday expenses (housing, groceries & goods, services)
- Local salary guide: median pay, typical pay range, and jobs in the field where published
- Target salary math so you keep the same standard of living after a move
- Approximate single-filer state income tax take-home on compare pages (see rate sources on the page)
Does not include
- Local city taxes, credits, filing-status variants, or tax advice
- Childcare, healthcare premiums, or leave benefits
- Job openings. “Local jobs in field” is how many people work in the role, not hiring demand
Technical source names (RPP, OEWS) and formulas live on the methodology page.
Highest wages here
- Chief Executives , 650 local jobs $243,620
- Physicians, All Other , 1,290 local jobs $234,000
- Architectural and Engineering Managers , 620 local jobs $172,640
- Computer and Information Systems Managers , 1,600 local jobs $171,220
- Financial Managers , 3,280 local jobs $167,570
- Human Resources Managers , 730 local jobs $163,290
See methodology and disclaimer.