City comparison
Fresno, CA vs Providence, RI
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Fresno, CA (102.2) and Providence, RI (101.8, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Fresno, CA goes as far as $99,600 in Providence, RI.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,355 a month in Fresno, CA and $1,402 in Providence, RI.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,922 a year higher in Fresno, CA than in Providence, RI.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.7% moving from Fresno, CA to Providence, RI ($106,973 → $120,548), while prices change by −0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +13.1% in real buying power.
- Fresno, CA: price level 102.2 (pricier)
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Fresno, CA | Providence, RI | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 102.2 | 101.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,623 in Providence | $100,378 in Fresno |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,355/mo | $1,402/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,110 | $76,032 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $5,070 (CA) | $3,148 (RI) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $46,910 | $53,680 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area and Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Fresno, CA and Providence-Warwick, RI-MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Fresno | Providence |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 95.7 | 103.9 |
| Goods | 105.2 | 97.1 |
| Utilities | 161.0 | 148.8 |
| Other services | 100.3 | 102.3 |
| Overall | 102.2 | 101.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Fresno, CA → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$1,922/yr.
70 Fair offer
Providence, RI → Fresno, CA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,922/yr.
68 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Fresno, CA is in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA pay area; Providence, RI is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Fresno, CA to Providence, RI at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Fresno, CA | Providence, RI | Real change, Fresno → Providence |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,033 | $69,905 | +13.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,055 | $84,579 | +13.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,959 | $101,375 | +13.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,973 | $120,548 | +13.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,410 | $142,452 | +13.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Fresno, CA | Providence, RI | Providence pay in Fresno dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $78,800 | $86,720 | $87,048 (+10.5%) |
| Software Developers | $129,060 | $130,690 | $131,184 (+1.6%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,690 | $95,020 | $95,379 (+21.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $125,420 | $99,880 | $100,258 (−20.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.