Providence, RI vs Amherst-Northampton, MA: cost of living compared
Price levels from BEA (2024); rent and home values from Zillow (September 2026).
The short answer
- Overall, Amherst-Northampton, MA is 1.5% less expensive than Providence, RI (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Providence works out to about $73,900 in Amherst-Northampton, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 6.1% less in Amherst-Northampton. Goods are 0.1% lower and other services 1.1% lower.
- Zillow does not publish typical rent for Amherst-Northampton, so rents are not compared here.
- The gap has narrowed since 2019, when Amherst-Northampton was 3.1% less expensive than Providence.
derived Calculated from BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) and Zillow data. Based on an average household's spending; taxes not included. How we calculate.
Category by category
Both cities against the US average (100). The gap in each row is what matters for a move.
Housing drives the gap: 6.1% lower in Amherst-Northampton than in Providence
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.8 | 100.2 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 97.0 |
| Housing (rents) | 103.9 | 97.5 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 155.7 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 101.2 |
| Category | Providence | Amherst-Northampton | Amherst-Northampton vs Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.8 | 100.2 | −1.5% |
| Goods | 97.1 | 97.0 | −0.1% |
| Housing (rents) | 103.9 | 97.5 | −6.1% |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 155.7 | +4.7% |
| Other services | 102.3 | 101.2 | −1.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Providence | $75,000 | $73,900 | −1.5% |
Index values: BEA, 2024, US = 100. Rent and home values: Data Provided by Zillow Group, September 2026.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Providence and Amherst-Northampton has narrowed since 2008: 4.0 points then, 1.5 now
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.7 | 99.7 |
| 2009 | 103.8 | 103.7 |
| 2010 | 101.8 | 96.7 |
| 2011 | 101.3 | 100.1 |
| 2012 | 100.3 | 99.3 |
| 2013 | 101.6 | 100.0 |
| 2014 | 100.5 | 99.3 |
| 2015 | 102.3 | 103.1 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 99.7 |
| 2017 | 103.1 | 102.3 |
| 2018 | 101.4 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 101.9 | 98.7 |
| 2020 | 101.7 | 101.8 |
| 2021 | 101.4 | 99.0 |
| 2022 | 103.6 | 101.1 |
| 2023 | 101.5 | 102.8 |
| 2024 | 101.8 | 100.2 |
Goods
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.4 | 99.8 |
| 2009 | 100.7 | 101.1 |
| 2010 | 98.3 | 98.0 |
| 2011 | 99.1 | 97.9 |
| 2012 | 98.8 | 97.4 |
| 2013 | 98.5 | 97.3 |
| 2014 | 99.0 | 97.6 |
| 2015 | 99.9 | 98.8 |
| 2016 | 99.9 | 98.3 |
| 2017 | 100.6 | 99.5 |
| 2018 | 100.8 | 100.8 |
| 2019 | 98.6 | 97.9 |
| 2020 | 98.3 | 98.8 |
| 2021 | 97.8 | 96.9 |
| 2022 | 101.0 | 100.8 |
| 2023 | 98.4 | 98.8 |
| 2024 | 97.1 | 97.0 |
Housing (rents)
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 112.5 | 88.5 |
| 2009 | 113.7 | 112.8 |
| 2010 | 111.5 | 80.6 |
| 2011 | 110.3 | 104.9 |
| 2012 | 104.7 | 99.6 |
| 2013 | 107.4 | 96.0 |
| 2014 | 108.7 | 102.4 |
| 2015 | 110.3 | 116.0 |
| 2016 | 101.9 | 90.0 |
| 2017 | 104.6 | 101.8 |
| 2018 | 105.3 | 101.0 |
| 2019 | 106.1 | 88.2 |
| 2020 | 101.9 | 103.0 |
| 2021 | 105.8 | 94.9 |
| 2022 | 98.3 | 83.8 |
| 2023 | 99.0 | 107.0 |
| 2024 | 103.9 | 97.5 |
Utilities
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 140.2 | 140.6 |
| 2009 | 139.3 | 138.9 |
| 2010 | 125.4 | 121.0 |
| 2011 | 122.2 | 120.7 |
| 2012 | 119.7 | 118.0 |
| 2013 | 120.4 | 121.9 |
| 2014 | 122.3 | 126.3 |
| 2015 | 127.5 | 132.4 |
| 2016 | 131.7 | 131.0 |
| 2017 | 135.6 | 138.0 |
| 2018 | 140.0 | 146.4 |
| 2019 | 140.3 | 145.0 |
| 2020 | 156.2 | 156.5 |
| 2021 | 146.5 | 150.5 |
| 2022 | 137.3 | 142.9 |
| 2023 | 147.3 | 156.9 |
| 2024 | 148.8 | 155.7 |
Other services
- Providence, RI
- Amherst-Northampton, MA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Providence, RI | Amherst-Northampton, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 101.8 | 101.3 |
| 2009 | 101.4 | 101.4 |
| 2010 | 100.2 | 99.8 |
| 2011 | 99.4 | 99.4 |
| 2012 | 99.3 | 99.8 |
| 2013 | 101.0 | 101.9 |
| 2014 | 98.4 | 98.7 |
| 2015 | 100.7 | 101.4 |
| 2016 | 102.1 | 102.1 |
| 2017 | 102.9 | 102.9 |
| 2018 | 99.4 | 99.5 |
| 2019 | 101.3 | 100.9 |
| 2020 | 101.9 | 101.6 |
| 2021 | 100.8 | 99.9 |
| 2022 | 105.5 | 105.6 |
| 2023 | 102.5 | 102.1 |
| 2024 | 102.3 | 101.2 |
More about each city
- Cost of living in Providence, RI
- Cost of living in Amherst-Northampton, MA
- Reverse: moving from Amherst-Northampton to Providence
Related comparisons
What this comparison leaves out
- Taxes. State and local income, sales and property taxes can change the result a lot, especially between states.
- Neighborhoods. These are metro-wide averages; a city center and its outer suburbs can differ by more than two metros do.
- Your own spending mix. The default uses an average household. Use the housing slider above if rent is a bigger share of your budget.
- Timing. BEA price levels are for 2024; Zillow figures are monthly and newer.