Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Warwick?

Dallas 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).

Dallas vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Dallas

Texas

$1,480/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 $1,480 in Dallas, TX versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Dallas, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $67,760 in Dallas, TX and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 23% 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.

Dallas, TX

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$923

+27% in Dallas, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,280

$1,085

+15% in Dallas, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,500

$1,629

+9% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,559

$1,569

+1% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$295,300

$322,000

+9% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$67,760

$87,536

+29% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$51,440

$53,680

+4% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.4 yr

44.6 yr

+11.2 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

42.4%

73.4%

+31.0 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.4%

33.2%

+4.2 pp in Dallas, TX

Avg Commute

26.0 min

25.0 min

+1.0 min in Dallas, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

661.9

79.5

+88% in Dallas, TX

Property Crime

3,412.9

1,149.5

+66% in Dallas, 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 Dallas, TX

Annual Precipitation

37.6 in

47.2 in

+9.6 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)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.9

29.2

+83% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$31.89

$25.75

+19% in Dallas, 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 Dallas, 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

Dallas vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Dallas or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Dallas, TX's $1,480, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Dallas than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Dallas versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Dallas or Warwick?: Dallas 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).