Cost of Living in Rhode Island (RI)
Compare costs across 3 Rhode Island cities. From home services to salaries, see how RI stacks up against the national average.
3
Cities
107
Avg Cost Index
$58K
Avg Income
Direct Answer
Rhode Island's average cost index is 107, which is above the national baseline of 100. Cranston is the most affordable tracked city in RI at index 106, while Providence is the most expensive at index 108.
The gap between the cheapest and most expensive tracked cities is 2 index points, so state-level averages should be used as a map, not a final budget.
State cost overviewBLS, Census, HUD inputsLast verified May 2026
Rhode Island Highlights: Most affordable city: Cranston (index 106). Most expensive: Providence (index 108). The gap between cheapest and most expensive is 2 index points.
What Drives the Statewide Cost Picture?
Average index
107/100
Rhode Island is above the national cost baseline across tracked cities.
Cheapest city
Cranston
Cranston has a cost index of 106.
Most expensive
Providence
Providence has a cost index of 108.
Income average
$58K
Average median household income across 3 tracked RI cities.
Cheapest and Most Expensive Cities in Rhode Island
| City | Population | Cost Index | Median Income | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 191K | 108 | $43K | mid |
| Cranston | 83K | 106 | $62K | small |
| Warwick | 83K | 108 | $69K | small |
Rhode Island State Taxes (2026)
Headline tax rates that affect your real take-home pay and total cost of living in Rhode Island.
State Income Tax
3.75-5.99%
progressive system
Combined Sales Tax
7%
7% state + 0% avg local
Property Tax (Effective)
1.3%
~$3,900/yr on a $300K home
Income tax: Rhode Island uses a progressive income tax at 3.75-5.99%. Estate tax applies at the state level. Estimate your take-home pay
State Planning Checklist
- Start with Cranston if the priority is lowest recurring cost inside Rhode Island.
- Compare Providence against salary and tax advantages before assuming the higher-cost city is worse.
- Use city pages for rent, salary, insurance, and local service costs before making a relocation decision.