Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Warwick?

Austin 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).

Austin vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/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 $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 4% higher in Austin, TX. 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.

Austin, TX

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$923

+32% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,085

+26% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,629

+8% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,569

+26% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$322,000

+37% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$87,536

+4% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$53,680

+6% in Austin, TX

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

44.6 yr

+10.1 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

44.4%

73.4%

+29.0 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

33.2%

+25.0 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

25.0 min

+1.0 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

79.5

+83% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,149.5

+65% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

51.6°F

+15.6°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

47.2 in

+12.3 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)

$1.25

—

Adult base one-way fare — CapMetro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.2

+83% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$25.75

+19% in Austin, 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 Austin, 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

Austin vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Warwick?: Austin 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).