Cost of living in Rhode Island
Prices in Rhode Island are 2.3% above the US average (15th highest of 51). A single filer on $75,000 pays $2,196 in state income tax. State sales tax: 7%.
Price levels in Rhode Island
| BEA RPP 2024 | Rhode Island | vs US (100) |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.3 | +2.3% |
| Goods | 97.2 | −2.8% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.6 | +5.6% |
| Utilities | 146.7 | +46.7% |
| Other services | 102.8 | +2.8% |
Metros in Rhode Island
Metros whose principal city is in Rhode Island. “Left over” = a single renter earning $60,000, after 2026 taxes (including the principal city’s local tax) and modeled costs.
| Metro | Population | Price level | 2-BR FMR | Infant care / wk* | Left over / mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 1,708,161 | 101.8 | $1,879 | $290 | $867 |
*Center-based, DOL 2022 price for the metro’s principal county; a year in brackets marks an older latest-available price. “No data”: DOL publishes no price for that county, and childcare is left out of its budgets.
Taxes in Rhode Island (2026)
| Annual tax | Single, $50,000 | Single, $75,000 | Single, $120,000 | Couple, 2 kids, $120,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $3,820 | $7,670 | $17,570 | $5,640 |
| Social Security + Medicare | $3,825 | $5,738 | $9,180 | $9,180 |
| Rhode Island income tax | $1,258 | $2,196 | $4,098 | $2,873 |
| Rhode Island payroll taxes | $550 | $825 | $1,100 | $1,320 |
| Take-home pay / month | $3,379 | $4,881 | $7,338 | $8,416 |
Annual liability, standard deduction, Child Tax Credit; local income taxes are not included in this state-level table (see each metro). On $75,000, Rhode Island’s income and payroll taxes cost $3,021 a year more than in a state without them (federal taxes are the same: $13,408).
Childcare prices across Rhode Island
| Age band | Center, median county / wk (2022) | Center / yr today* | Home-based / wk (2022) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $293 | $18,648 | $260 |
| Toddler (2) | $283 | $17,986 | $254 |
| Preschool (3–4) | $248 | $15,788 | $212 |
| School-age (5–12) | $65 | $4,141 | $217 |
Center-based infant care ranges from $290 a week in Providence County to $311 in Newport County (2022 prices).
DOL National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022; median across 5 counties with 2022 data. *52 weeks × 1.2224 BLS CPI for day care and preschool, 2022 average to 2026-08. Look up a county.
Property taxes by county
Effective rate = Census median real estate taxes ÷ median home value (ACS 2020-2024), metro-area counties.
| County | Median value | Median tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kent County | $366,100 | $4,957 | 1.35% |
| Bristol County | $513,800 | $6,648 | 1.29% |
| Providence County | $373,600 | $4,683 | 1.25% |
| Washington County | $510,800 | $5,102 | 1.00% |
| Newport County | $609,700 | $5,414 | 0.89% |
Energy and fuel
EIA: electricity 2025, natural gas 2024, gasoline week ending 2026-10-05.
Who moves to and from Rhode Island
Census state-to-state migration flows (2024 ACS 1-year; people 1 year and over, ± margin of error at 90%). Totals cover moves between states and DC only: 35,163 in, 31,984 out (net +3,179).
- Massachusetts11,568 ±2,985
- New York3,967 ±1,731
- Connecticut2,786 ±768
- Florida2,738 ±1,851
- California1,959 ±1,072
- North Carolina1,957 ±1,553
- New Jersey1,193 ±519
- Kansas1,023 ±1,248
- Massachusetts15,235 ±4,211
- Florida2,205 ±1,011
- Connecticut2,143 ±790
- New York1,485 ±739
- California1,458 ±1,002
- North Carolina1,227 ±906
- Texas1,061 ±886
- New Hampshire986 ±668
Frequently asked questions
Is Rhode Island expensive to live in?+
BEA’s Regional Price Parities put Rhode Island’s overall price level at 102.3 in 2024 (US = 100), the 15th highest of 51 states and DC. Housing is 105.6 and goods 97.2.
Does Rhode Island have a state income tax?+
Yes. A single filer earning $75,000 owes about $2,196 in Rhode Island income tax under 2026 law (2.9% of pay), plus $825 in state payroll taxes.
What is the sales tax in Rhode Island?+
The state rate is 7% (as of 2026-10-13); groceries are exempt from the state rate. Local sales taxes can add to this.