City Comparison · 2026
Providence vs Los Angeles
Salary, rent, taxes, and purchasing power compared
Purchasing Power
$100k in Providence = $149k in Los Angeles
Metric
Providence
Los Angeles
COL Index
✓1.18
1.76
1BR Monthly Rent
✓$1,600/mo
$2,450/mo
2BR Monthly Rent
✓$2,000/mo
$3,200/mo
State Income Tax
RI
CA
$100k Take-Home
✓$74,760
$73,198
$100k Effective Rate
✓25.24%
26.8%
$100k Savings Potential
✓$55,560
$43,798
After-Tax Income by Salary
| Gross Salary | Providence RI | Los Angeles CA |
|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $47,998 $4,000/mo · 20% eff. | $48,276 $4,023/mo · 19.54% eff. |
| $100,000 | $74,760 $6,230/mo · 25.24% eff. | $73,198 $6,100/mo · 26.8% eff. |
| $150,000 | $106,927 $8,911/mo · 28.72% eff. | $103,090 $8,591/mo · 31.27% eff. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Providence or Los Angeles cheaper to live in?
Providence has a cost-of-living index of 1.18 while Los Angeles is 1.76 (1.00 = US average). Providence is cheaper overall. 1BR rent in Providence is $1,600/month vs $2,450/month in Los Angeles.
How much more do you need to earn in Los Angeles vs Providence?
$100k in Providence = $149k in Los Angeles. Cost of living in Los Angeles is higher by 49.2%.
Which city has better after-tax income — Providence or Los Angeles?
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $74,760 in RI (Providence) and $73,198 in CA (Los Angeles). After accounting for rent, your annual savings potential is $55,560 in Providence vs $43,798 in Los Angeles.
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