Side-by-side cost of living comparison for 2026
Providence and Reno have very similar costs of living, with less than a 3% difference overall.
Index values shown. National average = 100. Lower is cheaper.
To maintain the same standard of living:
See exact take-home pay: Rhode Island salaries · Nevada salaries
Housing is typically the biggest factor in any cost-of-living comparison. Providence has a housing index of 118 while Reno sits at 133 (national average = 100). The median home in Providence costs $310,000 compared to $450,000 in Reno, a difference of $140,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,500 in Providence versus $1,600 in Reno.
Groceries and everyday expenses show a narrower gap: Providence scores 105 while Reno scores 102. Both cities are close to the national average for grocery costs.
Healthcare costs in Providence (112) are higher than Reno (96).
Median household income in Providence is $47,012 compared to $61,648 in Reno. When adjusted for cost of living, purchasing power is similar in both cities.
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