

Iowa City vs Providence
$449/mo less in Providence
Iowa CityProvidenceAbout 1,049 miles apart, a flight.
- Providence costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,069/mo in Providence. $2,518/mo in Iowa City. −$5,388 a year.
Iowa City
$2,518
left each month
Providence
$2,069
−$449 vs Iowa City
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
−$449 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Iowa City | Providence | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $6,542 | $7,623 | +$1,081 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,443 | $1,815 | +$372 |
| Take-home pay | $5,099 | $5,808 | +$709 |
| Rent | $911 | $1,740 | +$829 |
| Getting around | $411 | $491 | +$80 |
| Groceries | $347 | $416 | +$69 |
| Healthcare | $391 | $468 | +$77 |
| Utilities | $217 | $260 | +$43 |
| Everything else | $304 | $364 | +$60 |
| Left over | $2,518 | $2,069 | −$449 |
Salary to match Iowa City
$99,500
Gross pay in Providence that leaves the same amount as $78,500 in Iowa City.
Tax difference
−$617
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 22.1% in Iowa City, 23.8% in Providence.
More about Providence
Iowa City, IA in full
A flat 3.8% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $1,085 and 207 sunny days; commutes average 20 minutes.
Providence, RI in full
Boston-adjacent culture at a meaningful discount, with New England property taxes.
The other way
Start in Providence.
Providence → Iowa City →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Providence than Iowa City?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Providence leaves about $449 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $911 in Iowa City and $1,740 in Providence.
Does Providence have state income tax?
Providence is in Rhode Island, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Iowa City to Providence?
The paycheck is taxed in Rhode Island. Rent stays at the same bedroom count. What you keep is the difference.
Left over each month is take-home pay minus rent and the rest of the bills. The gap between Iowa City and Providence changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this · Leftover vs a COL index · Why a cheaper COL% can still lose leftover.
Estimate, not a quote. How we figure this.