Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Warwick?

Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Warwick?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Warwick?

Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Anchorage vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Anchorage

Alaska

$1,330/mo est.

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 11% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,001

$923

+8% in Anchorage, AK

1 Bedroom

$1,052

$1,085

+3% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,433

$1,629

+14% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,952

$1,569

+20% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,900

$322,000

+14% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$98,152

$87,536

+11% in Anchorage, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,200

$53,680

+11% in Anchorage, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

44.6 yr

+9.7 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

63.7%

73.4%

+9.7 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

33.2%

+4.5 pp in Anchorage, AK

Avg Commute

19.0 min

25.0 min

+6.0 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,016.5

79.5

+92% in Anchorage, AK

Property Crime

2,796.2

1,149.5

+59% in Anchorage, AK

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

37.4°F

51.6°F

+14.2°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

17.9 in

47.2 in

+29.3 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.2

+4% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$25.75

+48% in Warwick, RI

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Anchorage, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Anchorage, AK

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (AK / RI)

None

+7.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Anchorage vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Warwick?: Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Warwick?: Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).