Moving from Philadelphia to Providence (2026)

Providence has a COL index of 108 vs 107 for Philadelphia (100 = US average). Expect to pay about 1% more for the same lifestyle.

Pay ~$19 more/mo
on rent + taxes ยท $75K salary baseline

Change cities

Key differences

COL index
107 โ†’ 108
100 = US avg
1BR rent
$2,000 โ†’ $1,800
per month
State tax
3.1% โ†’ 6%
income tax
COL difference
107 โ†’ 108
1% more expensive

Salary needed in Providence to match your Philadelphia lifestyle

Based on the 1% cost of living increase between the two cities.

Your salary in PhiladelphiaEquivalent in Providence
$40K$40,374
$50K$50,467
$60K$60,561
$75K$75,701
$80K$80,748
$100K$100,935
$120K$121,121
$150K$151,402

๐Ÿ’ต Household income (before tax)

$75K
$
$30K$300K
Save ~$175/moon core expenses at $75K

Monthly budget at $75K โ€” Philadelphia vs Providence

ExpensePhiladelphiaProvidence
Monthly take-home$4,547$4,366
1BR rent$2,000$1,800
Groceries$391$399
Transport$96$75
Utilities$160$195
Internet$65$68
Left after essentials$1,835$1,829

30-Year Wealth Builder

If you invest your monthly savings of $175 in a low-cost index fund (7% avg return), you'd accumulate an extra:

$213,495

over 30 years compared to staying in Philadelphia โ€” that's the real price of a city.

$175/mo invested

Frequently asked questions

Is Providence cheaper than Philadelphia?

No. Providence has a cost of living index of 108 vs 107 for Philadelphia (100 = US average). That's about 1% more expensive.

How much will I save moving from Philadelphia to Providence?

On a $75K salary, moving from Philadelphia to Providence saves roughly $19/month on core expenses. That's ~$228/year.

What salary do I need in Providence to match my Philadelphia lifestyle?

To maintain the same purchasing power as $75,000 in Philadelphia, you'd need roughly $75,701/year in Providence. This is based on the overall COL index difference.

Estimates based on Q1 2026 COL index and market data. Budget uses simplified federal/state tax rates. Zillow ยท BLS ยท Numbeo ยท For general guidance only