Route comparison
Hartford, CT vs Providence, RI: Cost of Living
Compare the cost of living between Hartford, CT and Providence, RI. See the equivalent salary and median rent powered by BLS Regional Price Parities.
Hartford, CT
CT
- Overall RPP (US=100)
- 104.9
- Housing RPP
- 108.2
- Goods RPP
- 101.2
- 2-BR median rent
- $1,654/mo
Connecticut income tax 3%-6.99%.
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 Hartford, CT by about 1.0% (RPP 104.9 to 103.9).
$60,000 in Hartford, CT
-> $59,428
in Providence, RI
$100,000 in Hartford, CT
-> $99,047
in Providence, RI
$150,000 in Hartford, CT
-> $148,570
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: Hartford, CT vs Providence, RI
IRS tax-return migration · 2021-2022Hartford, CT
- Net people
- −2,490
- Net rank
- #36 of 65
- Top origin share
- 11%
- Top destination share
- 8%
Largest source: South Central Connecticut Plannin, CT. Largest destination: Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, CT.
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 $39/mo higher for HUD FY2024 2-BR FMR than Hartford, CT. Housing RPP moves from 108.2 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 Hartford, CT?
- Providence, RI (RPP 103.9) is cheaper than Hartford, CT (RPP 104.9) by about 1.0%.
- What salary do I need in Providence, RI if I earn $100,000 in Hartford, CT?
- You would need approximately $99,047 in Providence, RI to maintain the same purchasing power as $100,000 in Hartford, CT. Formula: $100,000 x (103.9 / 104.9).
- Which metro had stronger net migration, Hartford, CT or Providence, RI?
- For 2021-2022, Hartford, CT had a net loss of 2,490 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.