Cost of living comparison
California is 5.8% cheaper than Rhode Island.
- Restaurants
-
pay 3.6% less in California
- Groceries
-
pay 9.8% less in California
- Housing
-
pay 10.7% more in California
- Childcare
-
pay 32.8% less in California
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 1.5% less in California
- Clothing
-
pay 2.1% more in California
The cost of housing and clothing in California are more expensive than in Rhode Island. Expenses including childcare, groceries, restaurants, entertainment and sports, and transportation are lower in California.
If you lived in California instead of Rhode Island, you would:
pay 3.6% less for restaurants
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$24.67
|
$21.02
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$11.33
|
$11.52
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.67
|
$2.71
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$2.21
|
$2.16
|
|
pay 9.8% less for groceries
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.91
|
$4.14
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.42
|
$6.95
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$5.29
|
$4.61
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$5.07
|
$4.33
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.23
|
$5.70
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$2.90
|
$2.34
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.88
|
$0.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.64
|
$1.91
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.67
|
$2.38
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.91
|
$1.39
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$1.89
|
$1.44
|
|
pay (unknown) more for transportation
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.50
|
$4.83
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$70.00
|
$62.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$35,691.02
|
$30,005.28
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$22.40
|
$20.07
|
pay 10.7% more for housing
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$62.18
|
$68.54
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$2,090.00
|
$2,371.29
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,773.33
|
$2,055.18
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$166.70
|
$171.68
|
|
pay 32.8% less for childcare
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$2,051.19
|
$1,682.51
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$59,000.00
|
$30,905.75
|
|
pay 1.5% less for entertainment and sports
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$6.67
|
$7.00
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$4.98
|
$5.34
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$13.00
|
$10.91
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$61.00
|
$66.35
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$16.50
|
$14.41
|
|
pay 2.1% more for clothing
|
Rhode Island
|
California
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$54.53
|
$52.77
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$37.10
|
$40.15
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$88.87
|
$85.15
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$108.90
|
$117.31
|
|
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