Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Portland or Warwick?

Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).

Portland vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Portland

Oregon

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Portland, OR versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Portland, OR, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $88,792 in Portland, OR and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 1% higher in Portland, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Portland, OR

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,294

$923

+29% in Portland, OR

1 Bedroom

$1,440

$1,085

+25% in Portland, OR

2 Bedroom

$1,741

$1,629

+6% in Portland, OR

3 Bedroom

$2,053

$1,569

+24% in Portland, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$557,600

$322,000

+42% in Portland, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$88,792

$87,536

+1% in Portland, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,690

$53,680

+12% in Portland, OR

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

38.6 yr

44.6 yr

+6.0 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

52.8%

73.4%

+20.6 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

53.5%

33.2%

+20.3 pp in Portland, OR

Avg Commute

24.6 min

25.0 min

+0.4 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

732.3

79.5

+89% in Portland, OR

Property Crime

5,609.4

1,149.5

+80% in Portland, OR

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

54.5°F

51.6°F

+2.9°F in Portland, OR

Annual Precipitation

42.9 in

47.2 in

+4.3 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Portland, OR

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.80

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

29.2

+79% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$25.75

+19% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Portland, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Portland, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Portland, OR

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 (OR / RI)

None

+7.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

5.99%

+3.9 pp in OR

Portland vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Portland or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Portland, OR's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Portland than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Portland versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Portland or Warwick?: Portland is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% 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).