Before you decide to relocate to Rhode Island, it’s important to research the exact cost of living around the state. And that’s what we’re going to help you do.
These are the places in Rhode Island that cost a pretty penny — the most expensive cities in the state.
We used Saturday Night Science to compare the 2020-2024 American Community Survey on cost of living for the 15 places in Rhode Island with more than 7,000 people.
After we saved up for months and could finally afford it, we landed on this list of the ten most expensive cities in Rhode Island for 2026.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2026
What’s the most expensive place to live in Rhode Island? Well, HomeSnacks crunched the numbers and discovered that Newport is the most expensive place to live in Rhode Island.
Central Falls (the cheapest place to live in Rhode Island) can show these guys how to live on a budget in the coming years. Read on for how these places had costs rise faster than inflation.
And if you already knew these places were expensive, check out some more reading about Rhode Island and the most expensive cities in the country:
The 10 Most Expensive Places To Live In Rhode Island For 2026
/10
Population: 24,874
Cost Of Living Index: 141
Median Income: $86,313
Average Home Price: $938,853
Home Price To Income Ratio: 10.9x
More on Newport: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Newport is 141. The median income in Newport comes in at $86,313 and the average home value is $938,853 for 2026.
/10
Population: 7,332
Cost Of Living Index: 129
Median Income: $107,404
Average Home Price: $683,564
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.4x
More on Kingston: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Kingston is 129. The median income in Kingston comes in at $107,404 and the average home value is $683,564 for 2026.
/10
Population: 11,069
Cost Of Living Index: 128
Median Income: $89,028
Average Home Price: $599,570
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.7x
More on Newport East: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Newport East is 128. The median income in Newport East comes in at $89,028 and the average home value is $599,570 for 2026.
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Population: 8,296
Cost Of Living Index: 123
Median Income: $97,234
Average Home Price: $536,945
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.5x
More on Greenville: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Greenville is 123. The median income in Greenville comes in at $97,234 and the average home value is $536,945 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,091
Cost Of Living Index: 122
Median Income: $99,158
Average Home Price: $546,619
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.5x
More on Tiverton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Tiverton is 122. The median income in Tiverton comes in at $99,158 and the average home value is $546,619 for 2026.
/10
Population: 18,411
Cost Of Living Index: 119
Median Income: $95,207
Average Home Price: $623,538
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.5x
More on Westerly: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Westerly is 119. The median income in Westerly comes in at $95,207 and the average home value is $623,538 for 2026.
/10
Population: 83,250
Cost Of Living Index: 115
Median Income: $90,206
Average Home Price: $446,693
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Cranston: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Cranston is 115. The median income in Cranston comes in at $90,206 and the average home value is $446,693 for 2026.
/10
Population: 12,657
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $92,901
Average Home Price: $463,450
Home Price To Income Ratio: 5.0x
More on Valley Falls: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Valley Falls is 114. The median income in Valley Falls comes in at $92,901 and the average home value is $463,450 for 2026.
/10
Population: 8,648
Cost Of Living Index: 114
Median Income: $130,506
Average Home Price: $487,043
Home Price To Income Ratio: 3.7x
More on Cumberland Hill: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Cumberland Hill is 114. The median income in Cumberland Hill comes in at $130,506 and the average home value is $487,043 for 2026.
/10
Population: 191,767
Cost Of Living Index: 111
Median Income: $68,119
Average Home Price: $426,006
Home Price To Income Ratio: 6.3x
More on Providence: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
The overall cost of living in Providence is 111. The median income in Providence comes in at $68,119 and the average home value is $426,006 for 2026.
Methodology: How We Determined The Most Expensive Places To Live In The Ocean State For 2026
The two most important things to think about when it comes to being able to afford a city in Rhode Island are:
- How much money do I make?
- How much do I have to spend to live there?
You need to understand your costs in the context of how much money you make.
For example, if the median household earns $100,000 and spends $40,000 on housing, it’s actually cheaper to live there than a place with a median income of $50,000 and housing costs of $21,000. You might spend more on housing, but you have more money overall to play with.
With that example in mind, we derived several statistics from the latest Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 around incomes and costs. They are:
- Overall Cost Of Living Index
- Median Home Price / Median Income (lower is better)
- Median Income / Median Rent (Higher is better)
- Median Home Price
You can then compare these metrics in each of the places in Rhode Island to figure out which is the most expensive.
You are left with a “Cost of Living Index” by taking the average rank of each of these metrics for each city.
So we used that cost of living index to rank all of the 15 places in Rhode Island that have more than 7,000 people.
The place with the highest cost of living in Rhode Island according to the data is Newport. We updated this article for 2026. This article is our eleventh time ranking the most expensive places to live in Rhode Island.
Summary: Taking A Chunk Out Of Your Paycheck In Rhode Island For 2026
Well, there you have it, the places in Rhode Island that have the highest cost of living, with Newport ranking as the most expensive city in the Ocean State.
The most expensive cities in Rhode Island are Newport, Kingston, Newport East, Greenville, Tiverton, Westerly, Cranston, Valley Falls, Cumberland Hill, and Providence.
Here’s a look at the most affordable cities in Rhode Island according to the data:
- Central Falls
- Woonsocket
- Pawtucket
For more Rhode Island reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Cheapest Places To Live In Rhode Island
- Most Dangerous Cities In Rhode Island
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Rhode Island
- Safest Places In Rhode Island
- Worst Places To Live In Rhode Island
Most Expensive Cities In Rhode Island
| Rank | City | Cost Of Living | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Home/Income Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport | 141 | 24,874 | $86,313 | $938,853 | 10.9x |
| 2 | Kingston | 129 | 7,332 | $107,404 | $683,564 | 6.4x |
| 3 | Newport East | 128 | 11,069 | $89,028 | $599,570 | 6.7x |
| 4 | Greenville | 123 | 8,296 | $97,234 | $536,945 | 5.5x |
| 5 | Tiverton | 122 | 8,091 | $99,158 | $546,619 | 5.5x |
| 6 | Westerly | 119 | 18,411 | $95,207 | $623,538 | 6.5x |
| 7 | Cranston | 115 | 83,250 | $90,206 | $446,693 | 5.0x |
| 8 | Valley Falls | 114 | 12,657 | $92,901 | $463,450 | 5.0x |
| 9 | Cumberland Hill | 114 | 8,648 | $130,506 | $487,043 | 3.7x |
| 10 | Providence | 111 | 191,767 | $68,119 | $426,006 | 6.3x |
| 11 | Warwick | 109 | 83,175 | $88,708 | $414,086 | 4.7x |
| 12 | East Providence | 109 | 47,281 | $75,912 | $439,965 | 5.8x |
| 13 | Pawtucket | 106 | 75,893 | $68,310 | $391,766 | 5.7x |
| 14 | Woonsocket | 106 | 43,521 | $61,059 | $380,892 | 6.2x |
| 15 | Central Falls | 105 | 22,701 | $49,285 | $377,288 | 7.7x |