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Rhode Island cost of living & income (2026)

Quick answer: Rhode Island has a cost-of-living index of 111.2 (100 = national baseline), an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $55,600, median household income of $83,504, combined average sales tax about 7.00%, and regular gas about $3.933/gal in the June 2026 AAA snapshot used on the hub.

COL index111.2100 = US baseline
Est. annual COL$55,600
Median HH income$83,504
Sales tax (comb.)7.00%
Gas (87 octane)$3.933/galJune 2026 AAA
Largest cityProvidence (190,792)

Taxes & economy

Income tax: Graduated up to 5.99%

Sales tax: 7% state (combined avg. ~7.00%)

Major industries: Tourism, healthcare/biotech, manufacturing, finance, higher ed

Climate snapshot

Summer high ~81°F (July) · Winter low ~22°F (January)

Culture (context)

RISD Museum / Newport mansions heritage

Open the interactive 50-state map & table — sort, filter, and use the dual ranker on the full explorer.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a basket priced at 100 on the national baseline is indexed at 111.2 in Rhode Island. A salary that buys that basket at the baseline would need about 111.2% of that salary to buy the same basket here. That is index math from this snapshot, not a tax-equalized offer and not your rent.

Compare a salary: Rhode Island vs Texas on the explorer.

How to read this page

  1. Read the quick answer for Rhode Island's cost-of-living index, estimated annual cost, median income, sales tax, and gas price.
  2. Open the 50-state explorer and compare Rhode Island with another state. The salary line multiplies pay by the other index divided by this index.
  3. Use the mortgage, rent, and paycheck calculators with your own numbers. This page does not compute a tax return.

Related calculators: mortgage · rent · paycheck.

Related states

Similar cost-of-living index in this dataset:

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FAQ

What is Rhode Island's cost of living index?

Rhode Island's cost-of-living index is 111.2 (national baseline 100) in this 2026 classroom snapshot.

What is the estimated annual cost of living in Rhode Island?

The explorer lists an illustrative estimated annual cost of living of about $55,600 for Rhode Island.

What is median household income in Rhode Island?

Median household income in Rhode Island is $83,504 in this dataset.

What is the combined average sales tax rate in Rhode Island?

The combined average sales tax rate shown for Rhode Island is 7.00%. State and local rules vary; see the Tax Foundation citation on the hub.

Does Rhode Island have a state income tax?

State income tax in Rhode Island: Graduated up to 5.99%.

What was regular gas in Rhode Island in this snapshot?

87-octane gas is listed at $3.933 per gallon (AAA, June 2026) in the explorer data.

How should a household read Rhode Island's cost-of-living index?

The index is 111.2 against a US baseline of 100. A salary that buys a basket at the baseline would need about 111.2% of that salary to buy the same basket in Rhode Island in this snapshot. It is not a tax bill, a rent quote, or financial advice.

Sources: Tax Foundation (sales tax), BEA / ACS (income & COL), AAA gas (June 20, 2026). Educational, not financial, tax, or relocation advice.