What is the cost of living in Kingston, RI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Kingston has an overall cost of living index of 129, which is 1.3x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Rhode Island, Kingston has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Rhode Island's index of 112.
The standard of living in Kingston ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 15 places we measured in Rhode Island. By definition, that implies Kingston ranks as the #1 most expensive place in the Ocean State.
For more reading on life in Kingston, check out:
Kingston Cost Of Living Vs. Rhode Island
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Kingston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Kingston is 105.
The Groceries index in Kingston is 104.
The Health index in Kingston is 190.
The Housing index in Kingston is 104.
The Transportation index in Kingston is 107.
The Utilities index in Kingston is 105.
| Living Expense | Kingston | Rhode Island | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 129 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 105 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 190 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 105 | 108 | 100 |
Kingston 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
Kingston, 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 Kingston is $683,564.
The Median Rent in Kingston is -.
The Median Income in Kingston is $107,404.
The Home Value To Income in Kingston is 6.4x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Kingston is nanx.
| Statistic | Kingston | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $683,564 | $499,271 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | - | $1,342 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $107,404 | $87,796 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.4x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | nanx | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Kingston, RI Costs By Category
Detailed Kingston Services costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Kingston | 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 Kingston Groceries costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Kingston | 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 Kingston Health costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Kingston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Kingston Transportation costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Kingston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Kingston Utilities costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Kingston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Kingston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Kingston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Kingston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newport, RI has a cost of living index of 141, 1.1x Kingston.
Newport East, RI has a cost of living index of 128, 1.0x Kingston.
Pawcatuck, CT has a cost of living index of 116, 0.9x Kingston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newport, RI | 24,874 | 141 | 1.1x |
| Newport East, RI | 11,069 | 128 | 1.0x |
| Pawcatuck, CT | 5,577 | 116 | 0.9x |
