Living Cost Compare
Cambridge

Massachusetts

$2,810/mo est.

vs
Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,810 in Cambridge, MA versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 51% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cambridge, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $126,469 in Cambridge, MA and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 31% higher in Cambridge, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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.

Cambridge, MA
Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio
$2,236
$923
+59% in Cambridge, MA
1 Bedroom
$2,496
$1,085
+57% in Cambridge, MA
2 Bedroom
$2,980
$1,629
+45% in Cambridge, MA
3 Bedroom
$3,325
$1,569
+53% in Cambridge, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$1,040,500
$322,000
+69% in Cambridge, MA

Income

Median Household Income
$126,469
$87,536
+31% in Cambridge, MA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$66,620
$53,680
+19% in Cambridge, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
30.5 yr
44.6 yr
+14.1 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
33.7%
73.4%
+39.7 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
80.2%
33.2%
+47.0 pp in Cambridge, MA
Avg Commute
26.1 min
25.0 min
+1.1 min in Cambridge, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
436.7
79.5
+82% in Cambridge, MA
Property Crime
2,657.6
1,149.5
+57% in Cambridge, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
51.5°F
51.6°F
+0.1°F in Warwick, RI
Annual Precipitation
43.8 in
47.2 in
+3.4 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.07/gal
$3.94/gal
+3% in Cambridge, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.6
29.2
+1% in Cambridge, MA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$30.66
$25.75
+16% in Cambridge, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / RI)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
9.00%
5.99%
+3.0 pp in MA

Cambridge vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cambridge or Warwick?
Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 51% below Cambridge, MA's $2,810, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cambridge than in Warwick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $100,000 a year in Cambridge versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Cambridge or Warwick?
Cambridge is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% 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).