The short answer for 2026, based on Rhode Island's cost of living adjusted for Providence housing, plus what people actually earn.
The typical Providence household earns about $55,800, which is 20% below the $69,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here. A median local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
| Lifestyle | Salary needed |
|---|---|
| Modest (single, essentials covered) | $46,500 |
| Comfortable (average-state lifestyle) | $69,500 |
| Very comfortable (room to save) | $93,000 |
| Median rent in Providence | $1,098/mo |
Figures scale each benchmark by an estimated Providence cost index: Rhode Island's BLISS score (1.13) adjusted for Providence's median home price ($248,900) versus the statewide median ($507,000). Housing drives most city-to-city differences; other spending uses the state average. Estimates, not advice. Actual needs vary by neighborhood and household size.
A salary is not what you keep. See your actual paycheck after Rhode Island and federal taxes.
Calculate my take-home pay ›About $69,500 a year. That matches the lifestyle $75,000 buys in an average U.S. state, using Rhode Island's BLISS cost score adjusted for Providence housing prices. A modest single-person budget is closer to $46,500, and $93,000 is very comfortable with room to save.
About $55,800 a year. That is 20% below the $69,500 a comfortable lifestyle costs here, so a typical local income means many households run tighter than the comfort benchmark.
Providence's estimated cost of living is 7% below the U.S. average. The typical Providence home runs $248,900, which is 51% below Rhode Island's statewide median, and Rhode Island overall ranks #40 of 50 for affordability (#1 = cheapest).