Cost of Living in Warwick, RI
Updated November 2026 · Kent County · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area · population 83,175
Prices in Warwick are 1.4% above the US average (local index 101.4; the BEA index for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is 101.8), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 148.8; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,720 a month and the median rent is $1,363.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Warwick's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, unchanged.
Warwick price index by category, US average = 100: All items 101.4, Housing (rents) 106.5, Goods 97.1, Utilities 148.8, Other services 102.3
It is the 4th most expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 101.7 | 101.4 | 103.6 | 101.5 | 101.8 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Warwick, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $940 | $11,280 | 35% |
| Utilities | $347 | $4,164 | 13% |
| Food at home | $274 | $3,288 | 10% |
| Transportation | $635 | $7,620 | 23% |
| Health care | $359 | $4,308 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 6% |
| Total | $2,720 | $32,640 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Warwick, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,579 | $18,948 | 32% |
| Utilities | $557 | $6,684 | 11% |
| Food at home | $506 | $6,072 | 10% |
| Transportation | $1,258 | $15,096 | 26% |
| Health care | $666 | $7,992 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $325 | $3,900 | 7% |
| Total | $4,891 | $58,692 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Warwick, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,527 | $18,324 | 27% |
| Utilities | $677 | $8,124 | 12% |
| Food at home | $721 | $8,652 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,672 | $20,064 | 30% |
| Health care | $621 | $7,452 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $418 | $5,016 | 7% |
| Total | $5,636 | $67,632 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Warwick
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $863 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,071 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,799 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,740 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,907 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,363 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,196 |
| Median home value | $354,600 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,095/mo |
| Median household income | $88,708 |
| Rent as % of renter income Expensive | 31.1% |
| Home value ÷ household income Affordable | 4.0× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Rhode Island
28.18¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +6.2% (from 26.53¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 550 kWh a month in Rhode Island ≈ $162/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Rhode Island is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Warwick are 1.4% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $59,200 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 101.4. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranston, RI | 6 mi | 101.6 | $2,743 | $1,375 |
| Providence, RI | 8 mi | 102.0 | $2,658 | $1,408 |
| Pawtucket, RI | 12 mi | 99.2 | $2,569 | $1,208 |
| Newport, RI | 16 mi | 106.2 | $2,674 | $1,698 |
| Fall River, MA | 17 mi | 98.4 | $2,470 | $1,155 |
| Taunton, MA | 22 mi | 100.8 | $2,629 | $1,324 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 101.4 | $2,898 | $1,577 |
| Deltona, FL | 101.4 | $2,899 | $1,711 |
| Fresno, CA | 101.4 | $2,804 | $1,421 |
| Burlington, VT | 101.4 | $3,038 | $1,649 |
| Carmel, IN | 101.3 | $3,001 | $1,712 |
| Leominster, MA | 101.3 | $2,781 | $1,354 |
Compare Warwick with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Warwick, RI an expensive place to live?
Warwick has a local cost of living index of 101.4, which is 1.4% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (101.8) and adjusts housing to Warwick's own rents. It is 0.9 points below the Rhode Island average. It is the 4th most expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Warwick?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,720 for a single adult, $4,891 for a couple and $5,636 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $60,800 in Warwick.
What is the average rent in Warwick?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,363 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,071, 2 bedrooms $1,799, 3 bedrooms $1,740. The typical renter spends 31.1% of household income on rent (expensive).
How much does a house cost in Warwick?
The median owner-estimated home value is $354,600, 4 times the median household income of $88,708 (affordable). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,095 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Warwick?
Rhode Island residential electricity averaged 28.18¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 101.8) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 4474300 (Warwick city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Rhode Island residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources