City comparison
Hartford, CT vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Hartford, CT (102.7) and Providence, RI (101.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Hartford, CT goes as far as $99,100 in Providence, RI.
- Rent differs too: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,477 a month in Hartford, CT versus $1,402 in Providence, RI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Hartford, CT and 22% in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $777 a year higher in Hartford, CT than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.4% moving from Hartford, CT to Providence, RI ($120,094 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.9%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.3% in real buying power.
- Hartford, CT: price level 102.7 (pricier)
- 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
| Hartford, CT | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.7 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,053 in Providence | $100,956 in Hartford |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,477/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,255 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,925 (CT) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $59,940 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Hartford | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 110.2 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 97.3 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 144.9 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 102.7 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.7 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Hartford, CT → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power +1.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$777/yr.
72 Strong offer
Providence, RI → Hartford, CT
Roughly even
Buying power −0.9%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax +$777/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Hartford, CT is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Hartford, CT to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Hartford, CT | Providence, RI | Real change, Hartford → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $69,905 | +1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $84,579 | +1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $101,375 | +1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $120,548 | +1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $142,452 | +1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Hartford, CT | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Hartford dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,800 | $86,720 | $87,549 (+9.7%) |
| Software Developers | $132,520 | $130,690 | $131,939 (−0.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,940 | $95,020 | $95,928 (−0.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,470 | $99,880 | $100,835 (−0.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.