Cost of living comparison

 Illinois, USA
compared to
 Rhode Island, USA
Rhode Island vs. Illinois Cost of Living Summary

Rhode Island is 31.6% more expensive than Illinois.

Restaurants
pay 22.6% more in Rhode Island
Groceries
pay 42.9% more in Rhode Island
Transportation
pay 11.2% more in Rhode Island
Housing
pay 30.6% more in Rhode Island
Childcare
pay 94.5% more in Rhode Island
Entertainment and Sports
pay 19.5% more in Rhode Island
Clothing
pay 0.1% less in Rhode Island

The cost of childcare, groceries, housing, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and transportation in Rhode Island are more expensive than in Illinois. Notably, childcare is significantly more expensive in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island vs. Illinois Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Rhode Island instead of Illinois, you would:

pay 22.6% more for restaurants

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $16.03
 
$24.67
 
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$10.33
 
$11.33
 
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $2.49
 
$2.67
 

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pay 42.9% more for groceries

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Bread
1 loaf
$3.19
 
$3.91
 
Local cheese (8 oz) $5.63
 
$6.42
 
Milk (1 gallon) $3.30
 
$5.29
 

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pay 11.2% more for transportation

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.61
 
$3.50
 
Monthly public transit pass $72.95
 
$70.00
 
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $28,096.73
 
$35,691.02
 

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pay 30.6% more for housing

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$65.96
 
$62.18
 
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $1,375.37
 
$2,090.00
 
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $1,146.99
 
$1,773.33
 

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pay 94.5% more for childcare

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $1,394.11
 
$2,051.19
 
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $24,405.00
 
$59,000.00
 

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pay 19.5% more for entertainment and sports

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $5.17
 
$6.67
 
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.81
 
$4.98
 
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$9.79
 
$13.00
 

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pay 0.1% less for clothing

 
Illinois
Rhode Island
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.50
 
$54.53
 
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$41.59
 
$37.10
 
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$80.60
 
$88.87
 

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: July 2025
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