Providence, Rhode Island's capital city, combines centuries of history with contemporary city living. Nestled along the Providence River, the city features housing options from preserved Victorian homes in the East Side to contemporary apartments downtown. The presence of Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) enriches College Hill with academic and artistic energy. Federal Hill remains a cornerstone of Italian-American heritage, while the West Side features converted industrial spaces and art galleries. Downtown comes alive during the WaterFire festival at Waterplace Park, where thousands gather for evening celebrations combining music and art along the riverfront.
Current rental market data shows Providence maintaining competitive rates, with average one-bedroom apartments priced around $2,022, while two-bedroom units typically command $2,584. Spanning 21 square miles with approximately 181,000 residents, Providence offers convenient access to Boston while maintaining more affordable living costs. The Fox Point neighborhood features waterfront views and celebrates its Portuguese heritage, while the Knowledge District showcases restored mill buildings transformed into residential spaces alongside technology companies. The city's arts scene flourishes through performances at the historic Trinity Repertory Company and Providence Performing Arts Center.
Providence's skyline comes equipped with its quintessential center piece: The Superman Building.
Burnside Park is the central heart of Providence located at the base of it's skyline.
Hope Street in Providence is a major hotspot for unique, locally owned retail and restaurants.
As of December 2025, the average apartment rent in Providence, RI is $1,736 for a studio, $2,068 for one bedroom, $2,615 for two bedrooms, and $2,965 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Providence has increased by 6.1% in the past year.
The cost of living in Providence, RI is 11.2% higher than the national average. Generally, housing in Providence is 16.0% more expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,740 - $2,960. You can expect to pay 2.0% more for groceries, 34.0% more for utilities, and 1.6% less for transportation.
Thinking about moving to Providence? Here are some pros and cons of living in The Renaissance City to help you decide.
Thinking about moving to Rhode Island but don’t know where to start? Explore our comprehensive guide to five of Rhode Island’s best cities.
Very Walkable
out of 100 WalkScore® Rating
If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.
Good Transit
out of 100 TransitScore® Rating
The area around this property has good transit with many nearby transportation options.
Bikeable
out of 100 BikeScore® Rating
While there’s some bike infrastructure in this area, you’ll still need a car for many errands.
Vartan Gregorian Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
251 Students
Public
Grades PK-4
537 Students
Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
408 Students
Martin Luther King Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
407 Students
George J. West Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
601 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
808 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
631 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
608 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
683 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
435 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,113 Students
Juanita Sanchez Educational Complex
Public
Grades 9-12
322 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,302 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,164 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
896 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in November 2025.
