Massachusetts vs Rhode Island: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
- Overall, Rhode Island is 3.3% less expensive than Massachusetts (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Massachusetts works out to about $72,500 in Rhode Island, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 17.5% less in Rhode Island. Goods are 1.7% lower and other services 0.0% lower.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $55,878 in Rhode Island and $71,629 in Massachusetts (22.0% lower in Rhode Island; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run 101.8 in Providence, RI, its only metro area (Rhode Island) and from 95.1 in Pittsfield, MA to 108.3 in Boston, MA (Massachusetts), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.4%).
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities and real personal income by state. Statewide averages mix cities and rural areas; taxes are not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both states against the US average (100).
Housing drives the gap: 17.5% lower in Rhode Island than in Massachusetts
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 102.3 |
| Goods | 98.8 | 97.2 |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 | 105.6 |
| Utilities | 152.1 | 146.7 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 102.8 |
| Category | Massachusetts | Rhode Island | Rhode Island vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 105.8 | 102.3 | −3.3% |
| Goods | 98.8 | 97.2 | −1.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 128.1 | 105.6 | −17.5% |
| Utilities | 152.1 | 146.7 | −3.6% |
| Other services | 102.9 | 102.8 | 0.0% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $71,629 | $55,878 | −22.0% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.20 | $4.25 | +1.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Massachusetts | $75,000 | $72,500 | −3.3% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Income: BEA real personal income per person, 2017 dollars. Gas: EIA weekly retail prices. *New England region average (EIA has no separate Rhode Island figure).
Cheapest and most expensive places in each state
Massachusetts
- Pittsfield, MA 95.1
- Springfield, MA 96.1
- Barnstable, MA 98.4
- Amherst-Northampton, MA 100.2
- Providence, RI 101.8
- Worcester, MA 102.5
- Boston, MA 108.3
Rhode Island
- Providence, RI 101.8
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Massachusetts and Rhode Island has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 106.0 | 103.6 |
| 2009 | 105.5 | 103.9 |
| 2010 | 104.8 | 101.8 |
| 2011 | 104.7 | 101.1 |
| 2012 | 104.5 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 103.3 | 101.4 |
| 2014 | 104.5 | 100.3 |
| 2015 | 105.1 | 102.0 |
| 2016 | 108.2 | 101.6 |
| 2017 | 107.4 | 102.4 |
| 2018 | 107.4 | 102.0 |
| 2019 | 107.2 | 102.4 |
| 2020 | 109.1 | 101.8 |
| 2021 | 106.7 | 102.2 |
| 2022 | 109.4 | 104.5 |
| 2023 | 107.7 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 105.8 | 102.3 |
Goods
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98.4 | 100.3 |
| 2009 | 97.7 | 100.9 |
| 2010 | 99.7 | 97.6 |
| 2011 | 101.4 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 101.2 | 97.5 |
| 2013 | 100.8 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 104.0 | 97.2 |
| 2015 | 102.2 | 98.6 |
| 2016 | 103.7 | 98.4 |
| 2017 | 103.8 | 99.3 |
| 2018 | 102.3 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 103.6 | 98.9 |
| 2020 | 105.3 | 98.0 |
| 2021 | 105.6 | 98.2 |
| 2022 | 107.1 | 101.0 |
| 2023 | 100.0 | 98.3 |
| 2024 | 98.8 | 97.2 |
Housing (rents)
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 126.5 | 117.6 |
| 2009 | 130.3 | 117.7 |
| 2010 | 129.1 | 115.8 |
| 2011 | 128.6 | 115.3 |
| 2012 | 129.3 | 107.9 |
| 2013 | 129.1 | 108.8 |
| 2014 | 129.9 | 113.8 |
| 2015 | 130.0 | 113.1 |
| 2016 | 130.5 | 108.1 |
| 2017 | 130.6 | 106.7 |
| 2018 | 128.6 | 110.2 |
| 2019 | 130.1 | 108.7 |
| 2020 | 134.7 | 102.9 |
| 2021 | 129.0 | 109.1 |
| 2022 | 128.5 | 104.2 |
| 2023 | 130.1 | 102.7 |
| 2024 | 128.1 | 105.6 |
Utilities
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 150.0 | 137.2 |
| 2009 | 142.6 | 138.8 |
| 2010 | 114.2 | 129.9 |
| 2011 | 120.2 | 123.0 |
| 2012 | 127.4 | 117.6 |
| 2013 | 115.5 | 121.6 |
| 2014 | 110.0 | 125.4 |
| 2015 | 117.7 | 129.6 |
| 2016 | 133.2 | 131.4 |
| 2017 | 148.8 | 130.9 |
| 2018 | 151.7 | 138.8 |
| 2019 | 150.4 | 141.2 |
| 2020 | 162.3 | 156.9 |
| 2021 | 155.8 | 146.2 |
| 2022 | 151.3 | 133.6 |
| 2023 | 166.1 | 145.1 |
| 2024 | 152.1 | 146.7 |
Other services
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 104.8 | 100.6 |
| 2009 | 103.3 | 100.6 |
| 2010 | 102.0 | 99.3 |
| 2011 | 100.9 | 98.4 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 98.3 |
| 2013 | 98.8 | 100.9 |
| 2014 | 99.4 | 97.5 |
| 2015 | 101.0 | 100.1 |
| 2016 | 104.9 | 100.7 |
| 2017 | 103.3 | 102.0 |
| 2018 | 104.3 | 99.4 |
| 2019 | 102.9 | 101.4 |
| 2020 | 103.4 | 102.0 |
| 2021 | 100.9 | 101.2 |
| 2022 | 104.9 | 105.5 |
| 2023 | 105.0 | 102.7 |
| 2024 | 102.9 | 102.8 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $55,878 in Rhode Island, $71,629 in Massachusetts
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Massachusetts
- Rhode Island
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Massachusetts | Rhode Island | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $54,555 | $44,945 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $54,190 | $43,972 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $55,655 | $46,328 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $56,408 | $47,058 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $57,031 | $48,058 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $56,792 | $46,478 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $57,330 | $47,949 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $60,284 | $48,489 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $59,839 | $48,694 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $61,657 | $49,346 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $63,248 | $50,171 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $65,383 | $52,109 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $68,048 | $55,800 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $72,466 | $56,786 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $67,331 | $53,223 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $69,372 | $55,140 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $71,629 | $55,878 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Massachusetts
- Cost of living in Rhode Island
- Reverse: moving from Rhode Island to Massachusetts
- All states ranked
Related state comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State income, sales and property taxes differ a lot between states and are not included.
- Where you live inside the state. Statewide figures average cities and rural areas; the metro lists above show the spread.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider if housing is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels and incomes are for 2024; gas prices are weekly.