City Comparison

Fishers vs Providence

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fishers

Indiana
106
Above Average
$391,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$130,200
Median Income

Providence

Rhode Island
110
Above Average
$310,000
Median Home
$1,500/mo
Median Rent
$47,012
Median Income

The Verdict

3.6%

Fishers is 3.6% less expensive than Providence overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fishers would need approximately $77,830 in Providence to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
120
Fishers
118
Providence
Groceries
99
Fishers
105
Providence
Utilities
100
Fishers
119
Providence
Transportation
102
Fishers
102
Providence
Healthcare
99
Fishers
112
Providence

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fishers has the same purchasing power as $77,830 in Providence.

Conversely, $75,000 in Providence equals $72,273 in Fishers.

Living in Fishers vs Providence

Housing Costs

Fishers's housing index of 120 is higher Providence's 118, translating to median home prices of $391,000 vs $310,000. The $81,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,268 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Fishers compared to $1,500/mo in Providence, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 99 in Fishers and 105 in Providence. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $470/month in Fishers vs $499/month in Providence. Fishers offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $348/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 100 in Fishers and 119 in Providence. Monthly utility bills average approximately $400 in Fishers vs $476 in Providence. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Fishers and 112 in Providence. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $130,200 in Fishers and $47,012 in Providence. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $122,830 and $42,738 respectively. Fishers residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $3,038/month to housing in Fishers vs $1,097/month in Providence. In Fishers, median rent of $1,475/mo fits within this budget. In Providence, median rent of $1,500/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 19 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fishers is 3.6% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 110.
A $75,000 salary in Fishers has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $77,830 in Providence, based on the cost of living difference.
Fishers's housing index is 120 with median homes at $391,000, while Providence's is 118 with median homes at $310,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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