Rhode Island vs Massachusetts: cost of living compared
Statewide price levels and incomes from BEA (2024); gas prices from EIA (weekly).
Is it cheaper to live in Rhode Island or Massachusetts?
- Overall, Massachusetts is 3.4% more expensive than Rhode Island (BEA, 2024).
- To keep the same standard of living, $75,000 in Rhode Island works out to about $77,500 in Massachusetts, before taxes.
- Most of the difference is housing, which costs 21.3% more in Massachusetts. Goods are 1.7% higher and other services 0.0% higher.
- After adjusting for local prices, personal income per person is $71,629 in Massachusetts and $55,878 in Rhode Island (28.2% higher in Massachusetts; BEA, 2024, in 2017 dollars).
- Inside each state, metro price levels run from 95.1 in Pittsfield, MA to 108.3 in Boston, MA (Massachusetts) and 101.8 in Providence, RI, its only metro area (Rhode Island), US = 100.
- The gap is about where it was in 2019 (4.6%).
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: 21.3% higher in Massachusetts than in Rhode Island
Price level by category, 2024. US average = 100.
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.3 | 105.8 |
| Goods | 97.2 | 98.8 |
| Housing (rents) | 105.6 | 128.1 |
| Utilities | 146.7 | 152.1 |
| Other services | 102.8 | 102.9 |
| Category | Rhode Island | Massachusetts | Massachusetts vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 102.3 | 105.8 | +3.4% |
| Goods | 97.2 | 98.8 | +1.7% |
| Housing (rents) | 105.6 | 128.1 | +21.3% |
| Utilities | 146.7 | 152.1 | +3.7% |
| Other services | 102.8 | 102.9 | 0.0% |
| Income per person, adjusted for prices | $55,878 | $71,629 | +28.2% |
| Regular gas, week of October 19, 2026* | $4.25 | $4.20 | −1.1% |
| Salary to match $75,000 in Rhode Island | $75,000 | $77,500 | +3.4% |
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
Rhode Island
- Providence, RI 101.8
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
Metro areas ordered from cheapest to most expensive. BEA, 2024, US = 100.
How the gap has changed since 2008
The price gap between Rhode Island and Massachusetts has been fairly stable since 2008
Overall price level each year, 2008–2024. US average = 100.
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 103.6 | 106.0 |
| 2009 | 103.9 | 105.5 |
| 2010 | 101.8 | 104.8 |
| 2011 | 101.1 | 104.7 |
| 2012 | 99.8 | 104.5 |
| 2013 | 101.4 | 103.3 |
| 2014 | 100.3 | 104.5 |
| 2015 | 102.0 | 105.1 |
| 2016 | 101.6 | 108.2 |
| 2017 | 102.4 | 107.4 |
| 2018 | 102.0 | 107.4 |
| 2019 | 102.4 | 107.2 |
| 2020 | 101.8 | 109.1 |
| 2021 | 102.2 | 106.7 |
| 2022 | 104.5 | 109.4 |
| 2023 | 102.1 | 107.7 |
| 2024 | 102.3 | 105.8 |
Goods
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.3 | 98.4 |
| 2009 | 100.9 | 97.7 |
| 2010 | 97.6 | 99.7 |
| 2011 | 97.9 | 101.4 |
| 2012 | 97.5 | 101.2 |
| 2013 | 97.3 | 100.8 |
| 2014 | 97.2 | 104.0 |
| 2015 | 98.6 | 102.2 |
| 2016 | 98.4 | 103.7 |
| 2017 | 99.3 | 103.8 |
| 2018 | 100.8 | 102.3 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 103.6 |
| 2020 | 98.0 | 105.3 |
| 2021 | 98.2 | 105.6 |
| 2022 | 101.0 | 107.1 |
| 2023 | 98.3 | 100.0 |
| 2024 | 97.2 | 98.8 |
Housing (rents)
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 117.6 | 126.5 |
| 2009 | 117.7 | 130.3 |
| 2010 | 115.8 | 129.1 |
| 2011 | 115.3 | 128.6 |
| 2012 | 107.9 | 129.3 |
| 2013 | 108.8 | 129.1 |
| 2014 | 113.8 | 129.9 |
| 2015 | 113.1 | 130.0 |
| 2016 | 108.1 | 130.5 |
| 2017 | 106.7 | 130.6 |
| 2018 | 110.2 | 128.6 |
| 2019 | 108.7 | 130.1 |
| 2020 | 102.9 | 134.7 |
| 2021 | 109.1 | 129.0 |
| 2022 | 104.2 | 128.5 |
| 2023 | 102.7 | 130.1 |
| 2024 | 105.6 | 128.1 |
Utilities
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 137.2 | 150.0 |
| 2009 | 138.8 | 142.6 |
| 2010 | 129.9 | 114.2 |
| 2011 | 123.0 | 120.2 |
| 2012 | 117.6 | 127.4 |
| 2013 | 121.6 | 115.5 |
| 2014 | 125.4 | 110.0 |
| 2015 | 129.6 | 117.7 |
| 2016 | 131.4 | 133.2 |
| 2017 | 130.9 | 148.8 |
| 2018 | 138.8 | 151.7 |
| 2019 | 141.2 | 150.4 |
| 2020 | 156.9 | 162.3 |
| 2021 | 146.2 | 155.8 |
| 2022 | 133.6 | 151.3 |
| 2023 | 145.1 | 166.1 |
| 2024 | 146.7 | 152.1 |
Other services
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state, 2024 (US = 100).
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 100.6 | 104.8 |
| 2009 | 100.6 | 103.3 |
| 2010 | 99.3 | 102.0 |
| 2011 | 98.4 | 100.9 |
| 2012 | 98.3 | 100.3 |
| 2013 | 100.9 | 98.8 |
| 2014 | 97.5 | 99.4 |
| 2015 | 100.1 | 101.0 |
| 2016 | 100.7 | 104.9 |
| 2017 | 102.0 | 103.3 |
| 2018 | 99.4 | 104.3 |
| 2019 | 101.4 | 102.9 |
| 2020 | 102.0 | 103.4 |
| 2021 | 101.2 | 100.9 |
| 2022 | 105.5 | 104.9 |
| 2023 | 102.7 | 105.0 |
| 2024 | 102.8 | 102.9 |
What incomes buy in each state
Income per person after adjusting for prices: $71,629 in Massachusetts, $55,878 in Rhode Island
Real personal income per person, constant 2017 dollars (adjusted for each state's price level and for inflation).
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- United States
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, real personal income by state (SARPI), 2008–2024.
Show the numbers
| Rhode Island | Massachusetts | United States | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $44,945 | $54,555 | $45,816 |
| 2009 | $43,972 | $54,190 | $44,204 |
| 2010 | $46,328 | $55,655 | $44,808 |
| 2011 | $47,058 | $56,408 | $45,957 |
| 2012 | $48,058 | $57,031 | $46,796 |
| 2013 | $46,478 | $56,792 | $46,358 |
| 2014 | $47,949 | $57,330 | $47,661 |
| 2015 | $48,489 | $60,284 | $49,396 |
| 2016 | $48,694 | $59,839 | $49,828 |
| 2017 | $49,346 | $61,657 | $51,006 |
| 2018 | $50,171 | $63,248 | $52,242 |
| 2019 | $52,109 | $65,383 | $53,683 |
| 2020 | $55,800 | $68,048 | $56,514 |
| 2021 | $56,786 | $72,466 | $59,365 |
| 2022 | $53,223 | $67,331 | $57,104 |
| 2023 | $55,140 | $69,372 | $58,088 |
| 2024 | $55,878 | $71,629 | $59,195 |
More
- Cost of living in Rhode Island
- Cost of living in Massachusetts
- Reverse: moving from Massachusetts to Rhode Island
- 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.