Is it cheaper to live in Sacramento or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Sacramento, CA's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Sacramento versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Sacramento or Warwick?

Sacramento is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sacramento vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Sacramento

California

$1,760/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 $1,760 in Sacramento, CA versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 21% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,753 in Sacramento, CA and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 4% higher in Warwick, RI. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Sacramento, CA

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,259

$923

+27% in Sacramento, CA

1 Bedroom

$1,418

$1,085

+23% in Sacramento, CA

2 Bedroom

$1,742

$1,629

+6% in Sacramento, CA

3 Bedroom

$1,973

$1,569

+20% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$484,600

$322,000

+34% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income

$83,753

$87,536

+5% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$59,750

$53,680

+10% in Sacramento, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.7 yr

44.6 yr

+8.9 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

51.5%

73.4%

+21.9 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

36.4%

33.2%

+3.2 pp in Sacramento, CA

Avg Commute

25.6 min

25.0 min

+0.6 min in Sacramento, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

756.6

79.5

+89% in Sacramento, CA

Property Crime

2,615.3

1,149.5

+56% in Sacramento, CA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

61.0°F

51.6°F

+9.4°F in Sacramento, CA

Annual Precipitation

18.5 in

47.2 in

+28.7 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.52/gal

$3.94/gal

+29% in Sacramento, CA

Area: California vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.50

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

34.7

29.2

+16% in Sacramento, CA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$20.33

$25.75

+27% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Sacramento, CA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Sacramento, CA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Sacramento, CA

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 (CA / RI)

7.25%

+0.3 pp in CA

Income Tax (top rate)

13.30%

5.99%

+7.3 pp in CA

Sacramento vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Sacramento or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 21% below Sacramento, CA's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Sacramento than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $57,000 a year in Sacramento versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Sacramento or Warwick?: Sacramento is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).