

Providence vs Worcester
$363/mo more in Worcester
ProvidenceWorcesterAbout 54 miles apart, close enough to drive.
- Worcester leaves you more
- Rent under 30% of pay
Same paycheck, two cities. $2,433/mo in Worcester. $2,070/mo in Providence. +$4,356 a year.
Providence
$2,070
left each month
Worcester
$2,433
+$363 vs Providence
Compare
Same paycheck, another city.
Next
In 2022-2023, 962 households moved Providence → Worcester (avg AGI $68,784). 1,043 went the other way. The whole move →
+$363 / mo
See full breakdown
| Per month | Providence | Worcester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $7,625 | $8,318 | +$693 |
| Income and payroll tax | $1,816 | $2,165 | +$349 |
| Take-home pay | $5,809 | $6,153 | +$343 |
| Rent | $1,740 | $1,745 | +$5 |
| Getting around | $491 | $524 | +$33 |
| Groceries | $416 | $400 | −$16 |
| Healthcare | $468 | $450 | −$18 |
| Utilities | $260 | $250 | −$10 |
| Everything else | $364 | $350 | −$14 |
| Left over | $2,070 | $2,433 | +$363 |
Salary to match Providence
$93,000
Gross pay in Worcester that leaves the same amount as $91,500 in Providence.
Tax difference
−$1,724
A year, in state and local income tax. Effective rates: 23.8% in Providence, 26.0% in Worcester.
More about Worcester
Providence, RI in full
Boston-adjacent culture at a meaningful discount, with New England property taxes.
Worcester, MA in full
A flat 5% state income tax, a median 2-bedroom asking rent of $2,077 and 186 sunny days; commutes average 30 minutes.
The other way
Start in Worcester.
Worcester → Providence →Questions
Is the cost of living lower in Worcester than Providence?
For one adult in a one-bedroom, Worcester leaves about $363 more a month. A one-bedroom is about $1,740 in Providence and $1,745 in Worcester.
Does Worcester have state income tax?
Worcester is in Massachusetts, which taxes wage income.
What changes if you move from Providence to Worcester?
The paycheck is taxed in Massachusetts. 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 Providence and Worcester 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.