Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 16 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Providence, RI
Pros
Homes cost $513k less ($293,000 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $520/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,734)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $21,407/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
33% less violent crime than Providence
Households earn $21,407 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Providence
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Providence
Median Home Value
$513k less
$293,000 vs $805,500
Providence
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$21,407
$82,772 vs $61,365/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
33% lower
185.2 vs 276.7 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 22.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 90.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 48.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Providence is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 16 of 23 categories. Providence wins 7 and Urban Honolulu wins 16. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Providence to Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $805,500 median home), income ($61,365 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 5,071 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.