Cost of Living in Pawtucket, RI
Updated November 2026 · Providence County · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area · population 75,893
Prices in Pawtucket are 0.8% below the US average (local index 99.2; the BEA index for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is 101.8), with local housing the biggest saving at 94.4; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,569 a month and the median rent is $1,208.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Pawtucket's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, unchanged.
Pawtucket price index by category, US average = 100: All items 99.2, Housing (rents) 94.4, Goods 97.1, Utilities 148.8, Other services 102.3
It is the least expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 62% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 101.7 | 101.4 | 103.6 | 101.5 | 101.8 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Pawtucket, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $799 | $9,588 | 31% |
| Utilities | $347 | $4,164 | 14% |
| Food at home | $274 | $3,288 | 11% |
| Transportation | $625 | $7,500 | 24% |
| Health care | $359 | $4,308 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 6% |
| Total | $2,569 | $30,828 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Pawtucket, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,115 | $13,380 | 25% |
| Utilities | $557 | $6,684 | 13% |
| Food at home | $506 | $6,072 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,237 | $14,844 | 28% |
| Health care | $666 | $7,992 | 15% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $325 | $3,900 | 7% |
| Total | $4,406 | $52,872 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Pawtucket, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,214 | $14,568 | 23% |
| Utilities | $677 | $8,124 | 13% |
| Food at home | $721 | $8,652 | 14% |
| Transportation | $1,645 | $19,740 | 31% |
| Health care | $621 | $7,452 | 12% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $418 | $5,016 | 8% |
| Total | $5,296 | $63,552 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Pawtucket
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $932 |
| 1 bedroom | $934 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,304 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,420 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,388 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,208 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,033 |
| Median home value | $325,500 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $1,923/mo |
| Median household income | $68,310 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 28.0% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.8× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Rhode Island
28.18¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +6.2% (from 26.53¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 550 kWh a month in Rhode Island ≈ $162/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Rhode Island is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Pawtucket are 0.8% below the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $60,500 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 99.2. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 4 mi | 102.0 | $2,658 | $1,408 |
| Cranston, RI | 9 mi | 101.6 | $2,743 | $1,375 |
| Warwick, RI | 12 mi | 101.4 | $2,720 | $1,363 |
| Taunton, MA | 14 mi | 100.8 | $2,629 | $1,324 |
| Fall River, MA | 18 mi | 98.4 | $2,470 | $1,155 |
| Brockton, MA | 23 mi | 105.1 | $3,056 | $1,641 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden, NJ | 99.1 | $2,470 | $1,226 |
| Wilmington, DE | 99.1 | $2,607 | $1,224 |
| Pine Hills, FL | 99.3 | $2,643 | $1,542 |
| Austin, TX | 99.3 | $3,022 | $1,729 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 99.3 | $2,768 | $1,414 |
| Chesapeake, VA | 99.1 | $2,897 | $1,586 |
Compare Pawtucket with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Pawtucket, RI an expensive place to live?
Pawtucket has a local cost of living index of 99.2, which is 0.8% below the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (101.8) and adjusts housing to Pawtucket's own rents. It is 3.1 points below the Rhode Island average. It is the least expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 62% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Pawtucket?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,569 for a single adult, $4,406 for a couple and $5,296 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $59,500 in Pawtucket.
What is the average rent in Pawtucket?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,208 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $934, 2 bedrooms $1,304, 3 bedrooms $1,420. The typical renter spends 28.0% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Pawtucket?
The median owner-estimated home value is $325,500, 4.8 times the median household income of $68,310 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $1,923 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Pawtucket?
Rhode Island residential electricity averaged 28.18¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 101.8) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 4454640 (Pawtucket city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Rhode Island residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources