Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Warwick?

New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

New Haven vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 9% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $53,771 in New Haven, CT and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 39% higher in Warwick, RI. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

New Haven, CT

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,159

$923

+20% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,085

+15% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,473

$1,629

+11% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,636

$1,569

+4% in New Haven, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$249,000

$322,000

+29% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$53,771

$87,536

+63% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,060

$53,680

+11% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

31.9 yr

44.6 yr

+12.7 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

28.4%

73.4%

+45.0 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

37.7%

33.2%

+4.5 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

21.0 min

25.0 min

+4.0 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

536.3

79.5

+85% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

3,601.6

1,149.5

+68% in New Haven, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.2°F

51.6°F

+0.6°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

47.1 in

47.2 in

+0.1 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

29.2

+20% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$25.75

+10% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / RI)

6.35%

+0.7 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

5.99%

+1.0 pp in CT

New Haven vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New Haven or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 9% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New Haven than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in New Haven versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, New Haven or Warwick?: New Haven is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).