Living Cost Compare
New York City

New York

$2,010/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 $2,010 in New York City, NY versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New York City, NY, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $79,713 in New York City, NY and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 9% higher in Warwick, RI. New York has a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,633
$923
+43% in New York City, NY
1 Bedroom
$1,705
$1,085
+36% in New York City, NY
2 Bedroom
$1,781
$1,629
+9% in New York City, NY
3 Bedroom
$2,065
$1,569
+24% in New York City, NY

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$751,700
$322,000
+57% in New York City, NY

Income

Median Household Income
$79,713
$87,536
+10% in Warwick, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,430
$53,680
+13% in New York City, NY

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
38.0 yr
44.6 yr
+6.6 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
32.8%
73.4%
+40.6 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
41.0%
33.2%
+7.8 pp in New York City, NY
Avg Commute
40.6 min
25.0 min
+15.6 min in New York City, NY

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
694
79.5
+89% in New York City, NY
Property Crime
2,415.4
1,149.5
+52% in New York City, NY

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 New York City, NY
Annual Precipitation
49.9 in
47.2 in
+2.8 in in New York City, NY

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$4.08/gal
$3.94/gal
+4% in New York City, NY

Area: New York City vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$3.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.5
29.2
+1% in New York City, NY
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$27.01
$25.75
+5% in New York City, NY

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 (NY / RI)
4%
7%
+3.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
10.90%
5.99%
+4.9 pp in NY

New York City vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in New York City or Warwick?
Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below New York City, NY's $2,010, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in New York City than in Warwick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $68,000 a year in New York City versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, New York City or Warwick?
New York City is taxed under New York's rules (a top state income tax rate of 10.90% and a 4% 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).