City comparison
Providence, RI vs Spokane, WA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Providence, RI are 1.4% higher than in Spokane, WA. Someone earning $100,000 in Spokane, WA would need about $101,400 in Providence, RI to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,402 a month in Providence, RI versus $1,193 in Spokane, WA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Providence, RI and 18% in Spokane, WA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $3,148 a year higher in Providence, RI than in Spokane, WA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.2% moving from Providence, RI to Spokane, WA ($120,548 → $106,991), while prices change by −1.4%. Net effect of the transfer: −10.0% in real buying power.
- Providence, RI: price level 101.8 (about average)
- Spokane, WA: price level 100.3 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Providence, RI | Spokane, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 101.8 | 100.3 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $98,598 in Spokane | $101,422 in Providence |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,402/mo | $1,193/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,032 | $79,180 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,148 (RI) | $0 (WA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $53,680 | $54,660 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID |
Rent areas: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area and Spokane, WA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA and Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Providence | Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 103.9 | 97.1 |
| Goods | 97.1 | 105.0 |
| Utilities | 148.8 | 91.2 |
| Other services | 102.3 | 99.5 |
| Overall | 101.8 | 100.3 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Providence, RI → Spokane, WA
Roughly even
Buying power +1.4%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax −$3,148/yr.
73 Strong offer
Spokane, WA → Providence, RI
Roughly even
Buying power −1.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$3,148/yr.
64 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Providence, RI is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT pay area; Spokane, WA is in Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID. The last column shows what a transfer from Providence, RI to Spokane, WA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Providence, RI | Spokane, WA | Real change, Providence → Spokane |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,905 | $62,044 | −10.0% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,579 | $75,068 | −10.0% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $101,375 | $89,974 | −10.0% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,548 | $106,991 | −10.0% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $142,452 | $126,432 | −10.0% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Providence, RI | Spokane, WA | Spokane pay in Providence dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $86,720 | $98,800 | $100,205 (+15.6%) |
| Software Developers | $130,690 | $130,690 | $132,549 (+1.4%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $95,020 | $86,350 | $87,578 (−7.8%) |
| Registered Nurses | $99,880 | $111,750 | $113,339 (+13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.