City comparison
Providence, RI vs Spartanburg, SC
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 11.8% higher than in Spartanburg, SC. Someone earning $100,000 in Spartanburg, SC would need about $111,800 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $1,083 in Spartanburg, SC. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 17% in Spartanburg, SC.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,695 a year higher in Spartanburg, SC than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.7% moving from Providence, RI to Spartanburg, SC ($120,548 → $106,437), while prices change by −10.5%. Net effect of the transfer: −1.3% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
- Spartanburg, SC: price level 91.1 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Providence, RI | Spartanburg, SC | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 91.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $89,465 in Spartanburg | $111,776 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $1,083/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $74,337 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $4,843 (SC) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $47,650 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Spartanburg, SC.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 68.0 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 96.3 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 88.3 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 98.3 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 91.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Spartanburg, SC
Same pay goes further
Buying power +11.8%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax +$1,695/yr.
100 Strong offer
Spartanburg, SC → Providence, RI
Same pay buys less
Buying power −10.5%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,695/yr.
38 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Spartanburg, SC is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Providence, RI to Spartanburg, SC at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Spartanburg, SC | Real change, Providence → Spartanburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $61,722 | −1.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $74,678 | −1.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,508 | −1.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,437 | −1.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $125,776 | −1.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Spartanburg, SC | Spartanburg pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $60,990 | $68,172 (−21.4%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $114,460 | $127,939 (−2.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $77,080 | $86,157 (−9.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $82,360 | $92,059 (−7.8%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.