Is $38,000 a good salary in Rhode Island?

$38,000 in Rhode Island provides a monthly take-home of approximately $2,601 after taxes. Across major Rhode Island cities, this salary is rated manageable, with an average monthly surplus of $158.

What is the cost of living on $38,000 in Rhode Island?

The average monthly living cost across major Rhode Island cities is approximately $2,443 for a single adult (rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare). On $38,000 take-home pay of $2,601/month, you would have roughly $158/month remaining.

Living in Rhode Island · 2026

Is $38,000 enough to live in Rhode Island?

Single adult · RI · 2026 tax brackets · Real cost-of-living data

Statewide verdict:Manageable

Monthly take-home

$2,601

Avg monthly expenses

$2,443

Avg monthly surplus

$158

Savings potential

~6%

After-tax take-home in Rhode Island

Gross salary$38,000

Federal income tax− $2,454

State income tax− $1,425

Social Security− $2,356

Medicare− $551

Annual take-home$31,214

Effective tax rate17.86%

How $38,000 feels in Rhode Island cities

Rent: HUD FMR 2026 · Food: USDA Low-Cost Plan × COL · Transport/Utilities/Healthcare: BLS CES × COL

Providence

COL index: 1.18× national avg

Very tight

Rent (1BR)

$1,600

Food

$493

Transport

$207

Utilities

$195

Healthcare

$236

Total: $2,731/mo

Surplus: $-130/mo

Rent burden: 61.5% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Providence analysis →

Cranston

COL index: 1.10× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,450

Food

$462

Transport

$193

Utilities

$182

Healthcare

$220

Total: $2,507/mo

Surplus: $94/mo

Rent burden: 55.7% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Cranston analysis →

Warwick

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$462

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,445/mo

Surplus: $156/mo

Rent burden: 53.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Warwick analysis →

Pawtucket

COL index: 1.05× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,350

Food

$449

Transport

$184

Utilities

$173

Healthcare

$210

Total: $2,366/mo

Surplus: $235/mo

Rent burden: 51.9% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full Pawtucket analysis →

East Providence

COL index: 1.08× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,400

Food

$462

Transport

$189

Utilities

$178

Healthcare

$216

Total: $2,445/mo

Surplus: $156/mo

Rent burden: 53.8% — Unaffordable (> 50%)

Full East Providence analysis →

Woonsocket

COL index: 0.98× national avg

Manageable

Rent (1BR)

$1,200

Food

$431

Transport

$172

Utilities

$162

Healthcare

$196

Total: $2,161/mo

Surplus: $440/mo

Rent burden: 46.1% — High (35–50%)

Full Woonsocket analysis →

50 / 30 / 20 Budget Planner

Based on your monthly take-home of $2,601 ($31,212/yr)

Needs 50%Wants 30%Savings 20%

Needs50%

$1,301

per month

›Rent / mortgage
›Groceries
›Utilities
›Insurance
›Minimum debt payments
›Transportation

Wants30%

$780

per month

›Dining out
›Streaming services
›Gym
›Hobbies
›Travel
›Shopping

Savings20%

$520

per month

›Emergency fund
›401(k) / IRA
›Investments
›Down payment fund
›Debt payoff (extra)

Needs / year

$15,606

Wants / year

$9,364

Savings / year

$6,242

Salary Intelligence

Financial pressure in Providence

Rent alone would take 62% of take-home income. This salary creates significant financial pressure in this city — a $64,000 annual income or lower rent is needed to reach affordability.

Lifestyle score: 1.6/10 (Difficult)

Lifestyle Assessment

A $38,000 salary does not fully cover typical living expenses for a single adult in Providence, Rhode Island. Monthly costs exceed take-home pay by $130, indicating this income is insufficient for an independent lifestyle here without additional income or reduced spending.

Purchasing Power

Providence's above-average cost of living (index: 1.18) means $38,000 provides the purchasing power of roughly $32,203 in an average-cost US city, or $38,000 in Austin. Moving to a lower-cost state could effectively increase your take-home by thousands.

State & National Benchmark

$38,000 is 23% below the Rhode Island individual median of $49,100. Consider negotiating a higher salary or exploring higher-paying roles in this state.

State individual median

$49,100

-23%

State household median

$82,834

-54%

Tax reduction strategies

Maximize 401(k) Contributions — Up to $5,170 in federal tax (22% bracket)

Contribute to a Traditional IRA — Up to $1,540 in federal tax (22% bracket)

$38,000 vs. Rhode Island income benchmarks

Individual median (Rhode Island)

$49,100

-23% vs. this salary

Household median (Rhode Island)

$82,834

-54% vs. this salary

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 2023

Related salary insights

Explore other salary levels in Rhode Island

$40,000 $60,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $300,000

Reviewed by

Finance Editor

CPA, 10+ years in personal finance

Data Sources

•Tax calculations: IRS federal tax tables
•Rent data: HUD Fair Market Rents
•Cost-of-living index: C2ER / ACCRA Cost of Living Index

Data updated monthly using government datasets.