Rents are 2% below what East Providence's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,998 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in East Providence is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in East Providence changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 19 Rhode Island cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.9%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($75,912) is $1,898 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,735); a 3-bedroom is $2,090.
Central Falls, 7 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,547/mo), about $5,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for East Providence. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
East Providence, RI is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 31.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How East Providence, RI has changed in 5 years
The median rent in East Providence, RI stood at $1,588 in 2022 and currently runs about $1,998, reflecting a 25.8% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $65,016 to $75,912 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.8% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in East Providence, RI reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in East Providence on your salary?
At $1,998/mo, how East Providence rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
East Providence rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in East Providence. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in East Providence
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in East Providence is $1,998/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,325/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,735/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,420/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,090/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($75,912/yr), East Providence ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in East Providence?
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How does East Providence rent compare to other cities in Rhode Island?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than East Providence?
At $1,998/mo, rent takes ~32% of East Providence's median household income ($75,912/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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