Can A Registered Nurse Afford Rent in Providence, RI?
Comfortably affordable — rent takes 28% of gross income.
Providence rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Rhode Island state estimate).
About rent and a registered nurse salary
Rent is the single largest fixed cost most renters carry, and the rent-to-income ratio is the simplest measure of whether a city is livable on a given salary. For renters earning a typical registered-nurse income, the 30% rule supports about $2,360 a month in rent. That margin covers comfortable one-bedroom rent in the vast majority of US metros but tightens significantly in the highest-rent coastal cities, where rent can claim 40% or more of an RN paycheck. The per-city pages below show the local rent, the local nurse-pay estimate, and where that combination sits on the affordability scale.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Rhode Island cities have lower median rent than Providence, which improves the affordability math on a registered nurse salary:
Compare with full rent data for Providence
View full rent data for Providence, RI →Frequently asked questions
Can a registered nurse afford rent in Providence, RI?
Median rent in Providence is $2,293 a month. A typical registered nurse in Rhode Island earns about $98,259 a year, which makes that rent 28% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.
How much rent can a registered nurse afford in Providence?
Using the 30% rule, a registered nurse salary in Rhode Island (~$98,259/yr) supports up to $2,456 a month in rent. Providence's current median rent is $2,293/mo, which leaves a $163/mo buffer.
How many hours does a registered nurse work to cover rent in Providence?
At an hourly equivalent of about $47 an hour, a registered nurse in Rhode Island works roughly 48.5 hours a month to cover Providence's median rent of $2,293.
Where is rent cheaper than Providence for a registered nurse?
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 registered nurse salary.