Massachusetts vs Rhode Island Paycheck Comparison 2026
Annual salary
Annual salary
Additional options (filing status, deductions)
$1,334 /yr more take-home in Rhode Island
$111/mo · $51 a paycheck.
Massachusetts
Rhode Island
$58,063/yr in Massachusetts vs $59,397/yr in Rhode Island.
Massachusetts
Take-home per paycheck
$2,233.17
$58,063/yr · 26x/yr
Tax rates
Rhode Island
Take-home per paycheck
$2,284.50
$59,397/yr · 26x/yr
Tax rates
What this paycheck affords in Massachusetts vs Rhode Island
Sized off $4,839/mo take-home in Massachusetts and $4,950/mo in Rhode Island. Every figure below is a spending rule of thumb, not a tax rule.
Purchasing power
$43,283 is what Massachusetts take-home is worth at Rhode Island prices
Against $59,397 actually paid in Rhode Island, leaving Rhode Island $16,114/yr ahead once cost of living is taken off.
Rent
$1,483 /mo more for a two-bedroom in Massachusetts
$3,094/mo in Massachusetts, $1,611/mo in Rhode Island.
The average two-bedroom takes 64% of take-home in Massachusetts and 33% in Rhode Island — more than that paycheck supports in Massachusetts, a stretch in Rhode Island.
Buying a home
$180,000 more for the median home in Massachusetts
$620,000 in Massachusetts, $440,000 in Rhode Island.
The median home is 2.3× what this salary supports in Massachusetts and 1.7× in Rhode Island. Lenders size a mortgage off gross pay, so the budgets start from $75,000 at a 28% debt-to-income ratio, 6.75% over 30 years, each with its own state property tax rate.
What's left each month
$1,898 /mo further ahead in Rhode Island
Massachusetts runs $1,144/mo short; Rhode Island has $754/mo spare.
Living at the local average for everything fits one of these paychecks and not the other. Splitting rent with one roommate saves $1,547/mo in Massachusetts and $806/mo in Rhode Island.
Monthly cost by expense class
Every class on one scale, so housing's share of the month stays visible. Housing is the measured average two-bedroom; the rest are BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey averages moved by each state's cost-of-living index.
Other costs
| Cost | Massachusetts | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.41/gal | $3.40/gal |
| Electricity | $212/mo | $214/mo |
| Infant childcare | $2,226/mo | $1,397/mo |
Childcare sits outside the budget above because it applies to some households and not others — on its own it is 46% of take-home in Massachusetts and 28% in Rhode Island.
Sources: MERIC/C2ER Cost of Living Index (2025), AAA Fuel Gauge Report (2025), EIA State Electricity Profiles (2024), Child Care Aware of America (2024), Zillow Home Value Index (2025), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Estimate based on 2026 tax rates and standard deductions. Does not include local taxes, itemized deductions, tax credits, or other individual circumstances.
Tax system comparison
Massachusetts: Massachusetts uses a progressive income tax with 2 brackets ranging from 5.00% to 9.00%.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island uses a progressive income tax with 3 brackets ranging from 3.75% to 5.99%.
Take-home pay at different salaries (single filer, 2026)
| Salary | Massachusetts take-home | Rhode Island take-home | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,075 | $41,097 | -$1,022 |
| $75,000 | $58,063 | $59,397 | -$1,334 |
| $100,000 | $74,400 | $76,032 | -$1,632 |
| $150,000 | $106,511 | $108,268 | -$1,757 |
| $200,000 | $139,147 | $141,029 | -$1,882 |
| $300,000 | $200,397 | $201,326 | -$929 |
Positive values mean higher take-home in Massachusetts. Assumes single filer, no deductions.
FAQ
Which state has lower taxes, Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
At a $100,000 salary, Rhode Island results in $1,632 more annual take-home pay. Massachusetts uses a progressive income tax with 2 brackets ranging from 5.00% to 9.00%. Rhode Island uses a progressive income tax with 3 brackets ranging from 3.75% to 5.99%.
How much more do you take home in Rhode Island vs the other state?
The difference depends on salary. At $50,000, the gap is $1,022/yr. At $150,000, it grows to $1,757/yr. At $300,000, the difference is $929/yr.
Do Massachusetts and Rhode Island have the same federal taxes?
Yes. Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare are the same in every state. Only state income tax differs. This calculator shows the combined effect of federal and state taxes on your take-home pay.
Is it cheaper to live in Massachusetts or Rhode Island?
Rhode Island is cheaper to live in. Cost of living in Massachusetts is 10% higher than in Rhode Island. Massachusetts's Regional Price Parity is 110.8 and Rhode Island's is 100.9 (US average = 100).
Is Rhode Island cheaper than Massachusetts?
Yes. Rhode Island has a lower cost of living than Massachusetts (index 100.9 vs 110.8). Housing is typically the biggest difference between the two states.
Is Massachusetts more expensive than Rhode Island?
Yes. Massachusetts has a higher cost of living (index 110.8) compared to Rhode Island (index 100.9). The national average is 100. Housing costs are typically the largest driver of the difference.
After cost of living, which state is actually cheaper?
At a $100,000 salary, take-home pay of $74,400 in Massachusetts has the purchasing power of $81,700 in Rhode Island terms. Conversely, $76,032 in Rhode Island equals $69,238 in Massachusetts terms. After adjusting for both taxes and cost of living, Massachusetts comes out ahead.
Massachusetts vs Rhode Island cost of living — what's the difference?
The overall cost of living is 10% different between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Living costs are 11% above the national average Living costs are about 1% above the national average After taxes and cost of living, Massachusetts gives you more purchasing power on a $100,000 salary.
Do I need to file state tax returns in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
Massachusetts requires residents to file a state income tax return annually, typically due April 15. Rhode Island requires residents to file a state income tax return annually, typically due April 15. If you move between states mid-year, you typically file a part-year resident return in each state for the income earned while living there. Each state has its own tax return form — check your state's department of revenue website for the correct form and e-filing options.
Related tools
- Massachusetts vs Rhode Island Cost of Living — Compare housing, groceries, utilities, and overall expenses
- Massachusetts Cost of Living — Housing, groceries, gas, and overall index
- Rhode Island Cost of Living — Housing, groceries, gas, and overall index
- How much house can you afford in Massachusetts?
- How much house can you afford in Rhode Island?
- Massachusetts Tax Brackets — See 2026 marginal rates and effective tax rate
- Rhode Island Tax Brackets — See 2026 marginal rates and effective tax rate
- Massachusetts Bonus Tax Calculator — See how bonuses are taxed differently
- Rhode Island Bonus Tax Calculator — See how bonuses are taxed differently
- Pay Raise Calculator — See how a raise changes your take-home pay
- Gross-Up Calculator — Find the salary you need to hit a target take-home
- Salary to Hourly Converter — Convert annual salary to hourly rate
- Mortgage Calculator — Estimate monthly payments with local rates
Massachusetts Paycheck Estimator · Rhode Island Paycheck Estimator · All states