Route comparison
Boston, MA vs Providence, RI: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Boston, MA and Providence, RI. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Boston, MA
MA
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 112
- Housing RPP
- 150.3
- Goods RPP
- 110.1
- 2-BR median rent
- $2,827/mo
Massachusetts flat income tax 5.0%. No city income tax.
Providence, RI
RI
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 103.9
- Housing RPP
- 98.8
- Goods RPP
- 101.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,693/mo
Rhode Island income tax 3.75%-5.99%.
Equivalent salary
Providence, RI is cheaper than Boston, MA by about 7.2% (RPP 112 to 103.9).
$60,000 in Boston, MA
-> $55,661
in Providence, RI
$100,000 in Boston, MA
-> $92,768
in Providence, RI
$150,000 in Boston, MA
-> $139,152
in Providence, RI
This tool provides estimates only. Equivalent-salary figures are derived from BLS Regional Price Parities (RPP) and HUD Fair Market Rents — they are averages, not guarantees. Actual cost of living varies by neighborhood, lifestyle, and individual circumstances. Not financial advice.
Migration signal: Boston, MA vs Providence, RI
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Boston, MA
- Net people
- −39,965
- Net rank
- #60 of 65
- Top origin share
- 4%
- Top destination share
- 5%
Largest source: Worcester County, MA. Largest destination: Worcester County, MA.
Providence, RI
- Net people
- −2,723
- Net rank
- #38 of 65
- Top origin share
- 8%
- Top destination share
- 5%
Largest source: Plymouth County, MA. Largest destination: Plymouth County, MA.
Rent delta: Providence, RI is $1,134/mo lower for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Boston, MA. Housing RPP moves from 150.3 to 98.8.
Migration figures are derived from IRS SOI county-to-county migration data for 2021-2022, mapped to metros via Census CBSA delineation. Small county-to-county flows are IRS-suppressed, so per-metro totals are lower bounds. Source: IRS SOI migration data.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Providence, RI cheaper or more expensive than Boston, MA?
- Providence, RI (RPP 103.9) is cheaper than Boston, MA (RPP 112) by about 7.2%.
- What salary do I need in Providence, RI if I earn $100,000 in Boston, MA?
- You would need approximately $92,768 in Providence, RI to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Boston, MA. Formula: $100,000 x (103.9 / 112).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Boston, MA or Providence, RI?
- For 2021-2022, Boston, MA had a net loss of 39,965 people, while Providence, RI had a net loss of 2,723 people. IRS small-flow suppression means these are lower-bound research signals, not complete population-change totals.