Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Warwick?

Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Warwick?

Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Arlington vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Arlington

Texas

$1,380/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 $1,380 in Arlington, TX versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Arlington, TX is roughly 1% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $73,519 in Arlington, TX and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 16% higher in Warwick, RI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Arlington, TX

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,088

$923

+15% in Arlington, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,183

$1,085

+8% in Arlington, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,410

$1,629

+16% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,819

$1,569

+14% in Arlington, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$276,400

$322,000

+16% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$73,519

$87,536

+19% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$53,680

+4% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

44.6 yr

+11.0 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

54.8%

73.4%

+18.6 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.1%

33.2%

+0.1 pp in Warwick, RI

Avg Commute

26.7 min

25.0 min

+1.7 min in Arlington, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

494.2

79.5

+84% in Arlington, TX

Property Crime

2,434.5

1,149.5

+53% in Arlington, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

65.4°F

51.6°F

+13.8°F in Arlington, TX

Annual Precipitation

39.6 in

47.2 in

+7.6 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.58/gal

$3.94/gal

+10% in Warwick, RI

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

N/A

—

Adult base one-way fare — Arlington On-Demand (Via) vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.2

+83% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$25.75

+19% in Arlington, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Warwick, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Arlington, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / RI)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Arlington vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Arlington or Warwick?: Arlington, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,380 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 1% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Arlington than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Arlington versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Arlington or Warwick?: Arlington is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).