πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,210 in Providence, RI versus $1,688 in Rhodes.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,348 in Providence, RI versus $2,653 in Rhodes.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,487 in Providence, RI versus $3,618 in Rhodes.
πLiving in Providence, RI is roughly 90% more expensive than Rhodes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Providence, RI140% above, Rhodes26% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.28$19.28
$17.15β¬14.76
12.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$99.0$99.0
$65.7β¬56.5
50.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.04$13.04
$9.36β¬8.05
39.32%
Cappuccino
$4.38$4.38
$4.35β¬3.74
0.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82$2.82
$2.42β¬2.08
16.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90$1.90
$0.68β¬0.58
179.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.09$6.09
$5.75β¬4.95
5.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.28$7.28
$4.59β¬3.95
58.61%
π Groceries & Markets
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37$1.37
$2.17β¬1.87
-36.87%
White Bread(500g)
$3.31$3.31
$2.06β¬1.77
60.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.02$3.02
$4.92β¬4.23
-38.62%
Eggs
$5.46$5.46
$5.97β¬5.14
-8.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.85$10.85
$17.51β¬15.06
-38.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53$9.53
$16.67β¬14.34
-42.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.20$17.20
$16.48β¬14.18
4.37%
Apples(1kg)
$4.72$4.72
$2.27β¬1.95
107.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40$1.40
$1.98β¬1.71
-29.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.63$4.63
$1.50β¬1.29
208.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.90$4.90
$2.51β¬2.16
95.22%
Potato(1kg)
$3.03$3.03
$1.91β¬1.64
58.64%
Onion(1kg)
$3.43$3.43
$2.11β¬1.81
62.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$3.28$3.28
$1.34β¬1.16
144.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.75$1.75
$0.78β¬0.67
124.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.05$11.05
$5.26β¬4.53
110.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.01$15.01
$8.15β¬7.01
84.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.18$2.18
$2.63β¬2.26
-17.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04$2.04
$2.67β¬2.30
-23.60%
π Getting Around
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$2.29β¬1.97
-10.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.9$69.9
$92.2β¬79.3
-24.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95$3.95
$4.56β¬3.92
-13.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.10$2.10
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.88$27.88
$11.40β¬9.81
144.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86$0.86
$2.16β¬1.85
-60.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.8K$29.8K
$34.6Kβ¬29.8K
-13.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K$25.8K
$26.4Kβ¬22.7K
-2.29%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$321$321
$173β¬149
85.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.6$57.6
$21.16β¬18.20
172.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.0$65.0
$28.66β¬24.65
126.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.1$64.1
$60.7β¬52.3
5.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$61.0$61.0
$11.53β¬9.92
428.88%
Cinema Ticket
$14.90$14.90
$9.29β¬7.99
60.39%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,485$1,485
$403β¬347
268.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$28.2K$28.2K
$5,972β¬5,137
372.81%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.0$52.0
$177β¬152
-70.55%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.86$32.86
$43.84β¬37.71
-25.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6$66.6
$108β¬92.8
-38.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.0$83.0
$174β¬150
-52.44%
π Accommodation & Living
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,170$2,170
$576β¬495
276.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,729$1,729
$422β¬363
310.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,765$2,765
$968β¬833
185.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,233$2,233
$688β¬591
224.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,359$3,359
$3,912β¬3,365
-14.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,408$3,408
$1,794β¬1,543
89.97%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Providence, RI
Rhodes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,725$3,725
$1,387β¬1,193
168.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.45
4.7
37.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Providence, RI: June 1, 2026
Last update for Rhodes: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,170 in Providence, RI and $576 in Rhodes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Providence, RI pays 169% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $99.0 in Providence, RI vs $66.0 in Rhodes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $383 vs $372 per month, with Rhodes cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Providence, RI vs Rhodes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Providence, RI or Rhodes?
Rhodes wins on cost β living expenses run 90% lower than in Providence, RI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rhodes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Providence, RI or Rhodes?
Providence, RI pays 169% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Providence, RI vs Rhodes?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,170 in Providence, RI versus $576 in Rhodes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Providence, RI and Rhodes?
Childcare runs $1,485 in Providence, RI versus $403 in Rhodes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Providence, RI or Rhodes?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Providence, RI. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,500/month in Providence, RI or Rhodes?
At $1,688 in Rhodes versus $3,210 in Providence, RI, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Rhodes but tight or insufficient in Providence, RI. The gap between the two cities makes Rhodes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Providence, RI or Rhodes?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rhodes delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,688 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rhodes hard to pass up.
How safe is Providence, RI compared to Rhodes?
Safety-wise, Providence, RI and Rhodes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rhodes gentler on the wallet β expenses run 90% less than in Providence, RI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Providence, RI vs other spots: cost of living compared