Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Providence, RI?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 34.2% of gross income.
Providence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Providence, which improves the affordability math on a police officer salary:
Compare with full rent data for Providence
View full rent data for Providence, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Providence, RI?
Median rent in Providence is $2,293 a month. A typical police officer in Rhode Island earns about $80,361 a year, which makes that rent 34.2% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Providence?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in Rhode Island (~$80,361/yr) supports up to $2,009 a month in rent. Providence's current median rent is $2,293/mo, which is $284/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Providence?
At an hourly equivalent of about $39 an hour, a police officer in Rhode Island works roughly 59.4 hours a month to cover Providence's median rent of $2,293.
Where is rent cheaper than Providence for a police officer?
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 police officer salary.