Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Warwick?

Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Provo or Warwick?

Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Provo vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Provo

Utah

$1,120/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 $1,120 in Provo, UT versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Provo, UT is roughly 19% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,800 in Provo, UT and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 28% higher in Warwick, RI. Utah has a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Provo, UT

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,009

$923

+9% in Provo, UT

1 Bedroom

$978

$1,085

+11% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,128

$1,629

+44% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,381

$1,569

+14% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$437,100

$322,000

+26% in Provo, UT

Income

Median Household Income

$62,800

$87,536

+39% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,010

$53,680

+12% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

23.7 yr

44.6 yr

+20.9 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

39.9%

73.4%

+33.5 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

45.0%

33.2%

+11.8 pp in Provo, UT

Avg Commute

18.5 min

25.0 min

+6.5 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

205.7

79.5

+61% in Provo, UT

Property Crime

1,280.6

1,149.5

+10% in Provo, UT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.4°F

51.6°F

+1.8°F in Provo, UT

Annual Precipitation

19.8 in

47.2 in

+27.4 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.27/gal

$3.94/gal

+8% in Provo, UT

Area: Rocky Mountain (PADD 4) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

13.4

29.2

+119% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$11.84

$25.75

+117% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Provo, UT

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Provo, UT

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Provo, UT

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 (UT / RI)

6.1%

+0.9 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

4.50%

5.99%

+1.5 pp in RI

Provo vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Provo or Warwick?: Provo, UT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,120 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 19% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Provo than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $39,000 a year in Provo versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Provo or Warwick?: Provo is taxed under Utah's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.50% and a 6.1% 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).