

Chicago vs Providence
$332/mo less in Providence
ChicagoProvidenceAbout 852 miles apart, a flight.
- Providence costs you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
- Real winters
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,094/mo in Providence. $2,426/mo in Chicago. −$3,984 a year.
Chicago
$2,426
left each month
Providence
$2,094
−$332 vs Chicago
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 101 households moved Chicago → Providence (avg AGI $65,030). 99 went the other way. The whole move →
−$332 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Chicago | Providence | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $8,208 | $7,661 | −$547 |
| Income and payroll tax | $2,130 | $1,828 | −$302 |
| Take-home pay | $6,079 | $5,833 | −$246 |
| Rent | $1,782 | $1,740 | −$42 |
| Getting around | $392 | $491 | +$99 |
| Groceries | $408 | $416 | +$8 |
| Healthcare | $459 | $468 | +$9 |
| Utilities | $255 | $260 | +$5 |
| Everything else | $357 | $364 | +$7 |
| Left over | $2,426 | $2,094 | −$332 |
Salary to match Chicago
$98,000
Gross pay in Providence that leaves the same amount as $98,500 in Chicago.
Tax difference
+$1,672
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 25.9% in Chicago, 23.9% in Providence.
More about Providence
Chicago, IL in full
World-class city amenities at Midwest home prices, funded by 2.1% property tax.
Providence, RI in full
Boston-adjacent culture at a meaningful discount, with New England property taxes.
The other way
Start in Providence.
Providence → Chicago →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Providence than Chicago?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Providence leaves about $332 less a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,782 in Chicago 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 Chicago 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 Chicago 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.