City comparison
Grand Rapids, MI vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 6.5% higher than in Grand Rapids, MI. Someone earning $100,000 in Grand Rapids, MI would need about $106,500 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $1,278 in Grand Rapids, MI. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 20% in Grand Rapids, MI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $851 a year higher in Grand Rapids, MI than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Grand Rapids, MI to Providence, RI ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +6.5%. Net effect of the transfer: +6.3% in real buying power.
- Grand Rapids, MI: price level 95.5 (cheaper)
- 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
| Grand Rapids, MI | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.5 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,517 in Providence | $93,881 in Grand Rapids |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,278/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,181 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,999 (MI) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $47,570 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Grand Rapids | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 86.6 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 93.7 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 93.8 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 95.5 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Grand Rapids, MI → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.1%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$851/yr.
50 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Grand Rapids, MI
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.5%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax +$851/yr.
89 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Grand Rapids, MI is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Grand Rapids, MI to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Providence, RI | Real change, Grand Rapids → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +6.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +6.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +6.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +6.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +6.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Grand Rapids, MI | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Grand Rapids dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,900 | $86,720 | $81,414 (+31.5%) |
| Software Developers | $107,520 | $130,690 | $122,694 (+14.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $76,270 | $95,020 | $89,206 (+17.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,920 | $99,880 | $93,769 (+11.7%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.