What is the cost of living in Pawtucket, RI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Pawtucket has an overall cost of living index of 106, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Rhode Island, Pawtucket has a cost of living index that's 0.9x lower than Rhode Island's index of 112.
The standard of living in Pawtucket ranks as #2 most affordable out of the 15 places we measured in Rhode Island. By definition, that implies Pawtucket ranks as the #13 most expensive place in the Ocean State.
For more reading on life in Pawtucket, check out:
Pawtucket Cost Of Living Vs. Rhode Island
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Pawtucket. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Pawtucket is 104.
The Groceries index in Pawtucket is 102.
The Health index in Pawtucket is 111.
The Housing index in Pawtucket is 104.
The Transportation index in Pawtucket is 107.
The Utilities index in Pawtucket is 110.
| Living Expense | Pawtucket | Rhode Island | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 106 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 104 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 102 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 111 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 104 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 110 | 108 | 100 |
Pawtucket 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
Pawtucket, 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 Pawtucket is $391,766.
The Median Rent in Pawtucket is $1,208.
The Median Income in Pawtucket is $68,310.
The Home Value To Income in Pawtucket is 5.7x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Pawtucket is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Pawtucket | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $391,766 | $499,271 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,208 | $1,342 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $68,310 | $87,796 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.7x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Pawtucket, RI Costs By Category
Detailed Pawtucket Services costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Pawtucket | 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 Pawtucket Groceries costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Pawtucket | 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 Pawtucket Health costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Pawtucket | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Pawtucket Transportation costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Pawtucket | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Pawtucket Utilities costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Pawtucket | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Pawtucket SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Pawtucket
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Pawtucket. 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, 1.0x Pawtucket.
Cranston, RI has a cost of living index of 115, 1.1x Pawtucket.
East Providence, RI has a cost of living index of 109, 1.0x Pawtucket.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 191,767 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Cranston, RI | 83,250 | 115 | 1.1x |
| East Providence, RI | 47,281 | 109 | 1.0x |
| Attleboro, MA | 46,762 | 127 | 1.2x |
| Woonsocket, RI | 43,521 | 106 | 1.0x |
| Central Falls, RI | 22,701 | 105 | 1.0x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,298 | 123 | 1.2x |
| Valley Falls, RI | 12,657 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Cumberland Hill, RI | 8,648 | 114 | 1.1x |
| Greenville, RI | 8,296 | 123 | 1.2x |
