Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Denver or Warwick?

Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Denver vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Denver, CO versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,681 in Denver, CO and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 5% higher in Denver, CO. Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Denver, CO

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,497

$923

+38% in Denver, CO

1 Bedroom

$1,583

$1,085

+31% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,958

$1,629

+17% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$2,269

$1,569

+31% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$586,700

$322,000

+45% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$91,681

$87,536

+5% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$62,320

$53,680

+14% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.2 yr

44.6 yr

+9.4 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

49.1%

73.4%

+24.3 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

55.6%

33.2%

+22.4 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

25.4 min

25.0 min

+0.4 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

999.3

79.5

+92% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

4,781.1

1,149.5

+76% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

50.2°F

51.6°F

+1.4°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

15.6 in

47.2 in

+31.6 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.16/gal

$3.94/gal

+5% in Denver, CO

Area: Denver vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

17.1

29.2

+71% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$15.05

$25.75

+71% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Denver, CO

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 (CO / RI)

2.9%

+4.1 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.40%

5.99%

+1.6 pp in RI

Denver vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Denver or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Denver than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $63,000 a year in Denver versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Denver or Warwick?: Denver is taxed under Colorado's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).