Cost of Living in Rhode Island: Cities Where Household Expenses are Highest and Lowest in 2025
What is the cost of living in Rhode Island? doxo breaks down key insights about Rhode Island’s household expenses, with a close look into how bills differ between towns and cities across the state.
According to doxo’s The Cost of Bills Index™ (COBI), the average household in Rhode Island pays $2,269 in monthly expenses. doxoINSIGHTS compares the cost of the ten most common household bills across different regions. This includes Utilities, Cable & Internet, Mobile Phone, Auto Loans, Auto Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Alarm & Security, Rent, and Mortgage.
The data sheds light on Rhode Island’s cost of living through other metrics as well. For example, the “percent of household income” data point shows what percentage of their household income residents spend on bills each month.
By leveraging these tools, residents can gain a clearer understanding of their household expenses and optimize their financial planning.
Rhode Island ranks as the 11th most expensive state in the US for household bills
According to doxo’s COBI report, Rhode Island is ranked as the 11th most expensive state in the U.S. for household bills.
At $27,228 per year, Rhode Island’s household expenses, on average, are 10% higher than the US median of $24,695.
Absolute dollar amounts don’t tell the full story, however. doxo’s “Percentage of Household Income” data provides a more proportional look at bill spending in a particular location. Rhode Island households spend 31% of their income on bills.
COBI helps consumers understand how much it costs to live in one area as compared to another as it relates to the most common household bills. For COBI, the number 100 represents the national median and then, states, counties and cities are assigned a number, either above or below 100, based on how they compare to the national median. The COBI for Rhode Island is 110.
- Median Bill Cost per Household: $2,269 per month
- Cost of Bills Index(COBI): 110
- doxoINSIGHTS State Rank: #11
- Percent of Household Income Used for Bills: 31%
- Compared to the National Median: 10% higher
Rhode Island Household Expenses are 10% Higher Than the National Median
The average Rhode Island household pays $2,269 per month in the 10 most common household bills. The least expensive of these are alarm and security bills.
On the lowest end of the spectrum, the median monthly payment for alarm and security bills in Rhode Island is $74, compared to the national median of $74, making it the same as the national median.
Monthly mortgage bills are the most significant of the 10 most common bills for Rhode Island residents. The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,884, compared to the national median of $1,775, making it 6% more expensive.
Median Rhode Island Household Bill Spending
| Bill Category | Median Rhode Island Monthly Bill | National Median Monthly Bill | Rhode Island Percent +/- National Median ($2,126) |
| Mortgage | $1,884 | $1,775 | 6% higher |
| Rent | $1,301 | $1,453 | 10% lower |
| Auto Loan | $430 | $470 | 9% lower |
| Auto Insurance | $135 | $105 | 29% higher |
| Health Insurance | $170 | $72 | 136% higher |
| Mobile Phone | $89 | $96 | 7% lower |
| Cable & Internet | $150 | $121 | 24% higher |
| Life Insurance | $78 | $60 | 30% higher |
| Alarm & Security | $74 | $74 | same |
| Total | $2,269 | $2,065 | 10% higher |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
East Greenwich has the highest cost of living in Rhode Island for household bills
Residents of East Greenwich pay the highest household bills in the state of Rhode Island, at a median of $3,041 per month. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for East Greenwich is 147, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 47% higher than the national median.
In proportion to household income, monthly bills in East Greenwich make up 30% of the median annual household income of $120,952.
Access detailed infographics about each city or town by clicking on the hyperlinks in the “City” column in the tables below. You can also browse doxoINSIGHTS’ regional bill comparison database to see infographics about more than 4,200 cities and towns across all 50 states in the US.
5 Most Expensive Rhode Island Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expenses Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | East Greenwich | $120,952 | $3,041 | 147 | 47% higher | 30% |
| 2 | Barrington | $150,542 | $2,943 | 142 | 42% higher | 23% |
| 3 | Harmony | $94,746 | $2,883 | 140 | 40% higher | 37% |
| 4 | West Greenwich | $137,485 | $2,759 | 133 | 33% higher | 24% |
| 5 | Jamestown | $141,442 | $2,756 | 133 | 33% higher | 23% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Fiskeville has the lowest cost of living in Rhode Island for household bills
Fiskeville is the most affordable place in Rhode Island, with residents paying $1,133 on average for household bills, accounting for 10% of annual income of $135,106. The Cost of Bills Index (COBI) for Fiskeville is 55, meaning the median cost of bills in this city is 45% below the national median.
Block Island is the second most affordable city in Rhode Island, with residents paying $1,713 per month on average.
Also on the list of the 5 least expensive cities in Rhode Island are Hopkinton ($1,871), Tiverton ($1,985) and Carolina ($2,014).
5 Most Affordable Rhode Island Cities for Household Bills
| Rank | City | Median Income | Monthly Bill Expense Per Household | Cost of Bills Index (COBI) – Standard | % +/- Than the National Median | Percent of Household Income Used for Bills |
| 1 | Fiskeville | $135,106 | $1,133 | 55 | 45% lower | 10% |
| 2 | Block Island | $72,450 | $1,713 | 83 | 17% lower | 28% |
| 3 | Hopkinton | $101,392 | $1,871 | 91 | 9% lower | 22% |
| 4 | Tiverton | $99,542 | $1,985 | 96 | 4% lower | 24% |
| 5 | Carolina | $111,711 | $2,014 | 97 | 3% lower | 22% |
*Household Bill Pay Expense medians shown above reflect the ten most common bills paid, including housing (rent/mortgage).
Some individuals might be considering moving from a more expensive city to a less expensive one. For those making such decisions, doxoINSIGHTS can be a valuable resource. It allows consumers to compare household expenses in Rhode Island with average bills in various cities and states nationwide.