Living Cost Compare
Jersey City

New Jersey

$2,100/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 $2,100 in Jersey City, NJ versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jersey City, NJ, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,813 in Jersey City, NJ and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 8% higher in Jersey City, NJ. New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,949
$923
+53% in Jersey City, NJ
1 Bedroom
$1,853
$1,085
+41% in Jersey City, NJ
2 Bedroom
$1,857
$1,629
+12% in Jersey City, NJ
3 Bedroom
$2,004
$1,569
+22% in Jersey City, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$534,500
$322,000
+40% in Jersey City, NJ

Income

Median Household Income
$94,813
$87,536
+8% in Jersey City, NJ
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$53,680
+13% in Jersey City, NJ

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.7 yr
44.6 yr
+9.9 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
28.8%
73.4%
+44.6 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
53.1%
33.2%
+19.9 pp in Jersey City, NJ
Avg Commute
36.9 min
25.0 min
+11.9 min in Jersey City, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
562.9
79.5
+86% in Jersey City, NJ
Property Crime
2,036.4
1,149.5
+44% in Jersey City, NJ

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
55.0°F
51.6°F
+3.4°F in Jersey City, NJ
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
47.2 in
+2.8 in in Jersey City, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.9
29.2
+17% in Warwick, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$17.68
$25.75
+46% in Warwick, RI

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 (NJ / RI)
6.625%
7%
+0.4 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
10.75%
5.99%
+4.8 pp in NJ

Jersey City vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Jersey City or Warwick?
Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Jersey City, NJ's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Jersey City than in Warwick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Jersey City versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Jersey City or Warwick?
Jersey City is taxed under New Jersey's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).