CostIndexUSA

Manchester, NH vs Providence, RI Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

NH
Manchester
105.7
overall index
$2,100/mo rent
More AffordableRI
Providence
101.8
overall index
$2,075/mo rent

Providence is slightly cheaper than Manchester — 3.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Manchester, you would need $77,000 in Providence. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing22.6%
Manchester
134.2
Providence
103.9
🛒 Groceries0.6%
Manchester
97.7
Providence
97.1
🚗 Transportation1.4%
Manchester
108.9
Providence
107.4
🏥 Healthcare1.3%
Manchester
98.5
Providence
97.2
Utilities+11.5%
Manchester
133.5
Providence
148.8

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Manchester to see what you'd need to earn in Providence to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Providence, RI
$77,000
$3,000 less needed in Providence

Formula: salary × (101.8 ÷ 105.7) = salary × 0.9631. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Manchester, NH

Median Home Price
$503,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,100
Housing Index
134.2
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.0×

Providence, RI

Median Home Price
$501,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,075
Housing Index
103.9
Price-to-Rent Ratio
20.1×

Manchester has 22.6% lower housing costs compared to Providence.

Income & Job Market

Manchester, NH

Median Household Income
$103,700
Per Capita Income
$59,100
Unemployment Rate
2.1%
Population
115,644
Top Industries
HealthcareFinanceTechnologyManufacturingRetail

Providence, RI

Median Household Income
$83,300
Per Capita Income
$47,500
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Population
190,934
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceManufacturingTourism

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Manchester, NH
4.1×income-to-rent ratio

76% of income left after rent (median)

Providence, RI
3.3×income-to-rent ratio

70% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.