What is the cost of living in Central Falls, RI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Central Falls has an overall cost of living index of 105, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Rhode Island, Central Falls has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Rhode Island's index of 112.
The standard of living in Central Falls ranks as #1 most affordable out of the 15 places we measured in Rhode Island. By definition, that implies Central Falls ranks as the #14 most expensive place in the Ocean State.
For more reading on life in Central Falls, check out:
Central Falls Cost Of Living Vs. Rhode Island
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Central Falls. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Central Falls is 107.
The Groceries index in Central Falls is 100.
The Health index in Central Falls is 96.
The Housing index in Central Falls is 106.
The Transportation index in Central Falls is 108.
The Utilities index in Central Falls is 111.
| Living Expense | Central Falls | Rhode Island | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 105 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 100 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 96 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 106 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 111 | 108 | 100 |
Central Falls Cost Of Living Compared To Rhode Island Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Rhode Island, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Rhode Island
- Most Affordable Cities In Rhode Island
- Average Rent In Rhode Island
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Central Falls, RI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Rhode Island, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Central Falls is $377,288.
The Median Rent in Central Falls is $1,200.
The Median Income in Central Falls is $49,285.
The Home Value To Income in Central Falls is 7.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Central Falls is 0.29x.
| Statistic | Central Falls | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $377,288 | $499,271 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,200 | $1,342 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $49,285 | $87,796 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.7x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.29x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Central Falls, RI Costs By Category
Detailed Central Falls Services costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Central Falls | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Central Falls Groceries costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Central Falls | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Central Falls Health costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Central Falls | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Central Falls Transportation costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Central Falls | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Central Falls Utilities costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Central Falls | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Central Falls SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Central Falls
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Central Falls. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Providence, RI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.1x Central Falls.
Cranston, RI has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x Central Falls.
Pawtucket, RI has a cost of living index of 106, 1.0x Central Falls.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Central Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 191,767 | 111 | 1.1x |
| Cranston, RI | 83,250 | 115 | 1.1x |
| Pawtucket, RI | 75,893 | 106 | 1.0x |
| East Providence, RI | 47,281 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Attleboro, MA | 46,762 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Woonsocket, RI | 43,521 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Milford, MA | 27,731 | 126 | 1.2x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,298 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Valley Falls, RI | 12,657 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Cumberland Hill, RI | 8,648 | 114 | 1.1x |
