City comparison
Jacksonville, FL vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 2.3% higher than in Jacksonville, FL. Someone earning $100,000 in Jacksonville, FL would need about $102,300 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,382 a month in Jacksonville, FL and $1,402 in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Providence, RI than in Jacksonville, FL.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Jacksonville, FL to Providence, RI ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +2.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +10.7% in real buying power.
- Jacksonville, FL: price level 99.5 (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
| Jacksonville, FL | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 99.5 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $102,301 in Providence | $97,751 in Jacksonville |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $79,180 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $0 (FL) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,830 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Jacksonville, FL HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Jacksonville, FL and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Jacksonville | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 109.8 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 96.2 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 87.5 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 98.9 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 99.5 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Jacksonville, FL → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −2.2%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
62 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Jacksonville, FL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +2.3%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
76 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Jacksonville, FL 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 Jacksonville, FL to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Jacksonville, FL | Providence, RI | Real change, Jacksonville → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | +10.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | +10.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | +10.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | +10.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | +10.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Jacksonville, FL | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Jacksonville dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $61,080 | $86,720 | $84,770 (+38.8%) |
| Software Developers | $130,330 | $130,690 | $127,751 (−2.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,960 | $95,020 | $92,883 (+16.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $83,520 | $99,880 | $97,634 (+16.9%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.