City comparison
Philadelphia, PA vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Philadelphia, PA (102.6) and Providence, RI (101.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Philadelphia, PA goes as far as $99,200 in Providence, RI.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,520 a month in Philadelphia, PA versus $1,402 in Providence, RI. On $100,000, that's 24% of take-home pay in Philadelphia, PA and 22% in Providence, RI.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $3,070 a year in PA and $3,148 in RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +2.8% moving from Philadelphia, PA to Providence, RI ($117,284 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.8%. Net effect of the transfer: +3.6% in real buying power.
- Philadelphia, PA: price level 102.6 (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
| Philadelphia, PA | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.6 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,238 in Providence | $100,767 in Philadelphia |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,520/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 24% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $54,310 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD MSA and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Philadelphia | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 113.1 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 96.8 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 114.4 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 103.1 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.6 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Philadelphia, PA → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$78/yr.
71 Strong offer
Providence, RI → Philadelphia, PA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.8%; rent takes 24% of take-home; state tax −$78/yr.
66 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Philadelphia, PA is in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Philadelphia, PA to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Philadelphia, PA | Providence, RI | Real change, Philadelphia → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,013 | $69,905 | +3.6% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $82,289 | $84,579 | +3.6% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $98,630 | $101,375 | +3.6% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $117,284 | $120,548 | +3.6% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $138,595 | $142,452 | +3.6% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Philadelphia, PA | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Philadelphia dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,570 | $86,720 | $87,385 (+11.2%) |
| Software Developers | $133,040 | $130,690 | $131,693 (−1.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $85,990 | $95,020 | $95,749 (+11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,180 | $99,880 | $100,646 (−0.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.