City comparison
Albany, NY vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 2.2% higher than in Albany, NY. Someone earning $100,000 in Albany, NY would need about $102,200 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,417 a month in Albany, NY and $1,402 in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,712 a year higher in Albany, NY than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +9.8% moving from Albany, NY to Providence, RI ($109,810 → $120,548), while prices change by +2.2%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.4% in real buying power.
- Albany, NY: price level 99.6 (about average)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Albany, NY | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.6 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,217 in Providence | $97,831 in Albany |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,417/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,320 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,860 (NY) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 23% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $58,460 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY MSA and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Albany | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 102.6 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 99.7 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 134.0 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 99.6 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Albany, NY → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,712/yr.
62 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Albany, NY
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.2%; rent takes 23% of take-home; state tax +$1,712/yr.
76 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Albany, NY is in the Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Albany, NY to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Albany, NY | Providence, RI | Real change, Albany → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $63,678 | $69,905 | +7.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $77,045 | $84,579 | +7.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $92,344 | $101,375 | +7.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $109,810 | $120,548 | +7.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $129,763 | $142,452 | +7.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Albany, NY | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Albany dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,240 | $86,720 | $84,839 (+7.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,910 | $130,690 | $127,856 (−0.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $84,660 | $95,020 | $92,959 (+9.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,970 | $99,880 | $97,714 (−2.3%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.