Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Providence, RI?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 49.8% of gross income.

Providence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).

Providence median rent
$2,293/mo
Paramedic salary (Rhode Island)
$55,307/yr
Rent as % of income
49.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,609, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,383/mo in rent. Providence's median rent of $2,293 exceeds that threshold by $910/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 86.2 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Providence, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Bristol, RI
$2,284/mo (49.6% of income)
Bristol, RI
$2,283/mo (49.5% of income)
Bristol, RI
$2,282/mo (49.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Providence

View full rent data for Providence, RI

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Providence, RI?

Median rent in Providence is $2,293 a month. A typical paramedic in Rhode Island earns about $55,307 a year, which makes that rent 49.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Providence?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Rhode Island (~$55,307/yr) supports up to $1,383 a month in rent. Providence's current median rent is $2,293/mo, which is $910/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Providence?

At an hourly equivalent of about $27 an hour, a paramedic in Rhode Island works roughly 86.2 hours a month to cover Providence's median rent of $2,293.

Where is rent cheaper than Providence for a paramedic?

Nearby Rhode Island cities with lower median rent include Bristol ($2,284/mo), Bristol ($2,283/mo), Bristol ($2,282/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Rhode Island state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Providence, RI. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.