Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Warwick?

Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of natural gas costs.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Warwick?

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

Fairbanks vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Fairbanks

Alaska

$1,350/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 $1,350 in Fairbanks, AK versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Fairbanks, AK is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by natural gas costs.

Median household income is $72,077 in Fairbanks, AK and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 18% higher in Warwick, RI. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Fairbanks, AK

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$883

$923

+5% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$1,076

$1,085

+1% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,428

$1,629

+14% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$2,019

$1,569

+22% in Fairbanks, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$255,700

$322,000

+26% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$72,077

$87,536

+21% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,810

$53,680

+13% in Fairbanks, AK

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

28.6 yr

44.6 yr

+16.0 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

40.5%

73.4%

+32.9 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

26.5%

33.2%

+6.7 pp in Warwick, RI

Avg Commute

14.1 min

25.0 min

+10.9 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

726.1

79.5

+89% in Fairbanks, AK

Property Crime

3,504.2

1,149.5

+67% in Fairbanks, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

27.7°F

51.6°F

+23.9°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

10.8 in

47.2 in

+36.4 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Fairbanks, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

28.2

29.2

+4% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$17.35

$25.75

+48% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Fairbanks, AK

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Fairbanks, AK

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 (AK / RI)

None

+7.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Fairbanks vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Fairbanks or Warwick?: Fairbanks, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,350 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of natural gas costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Fairbanks than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Fairbanks versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Fairbanks or Warwick?: Fairbanks is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no 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).