Living Cost Compare
San Antonio

Texas

$1,280/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 $1,280 in San Antonio, TX versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, San Antonio, TX is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $62,917 in San Antonio, TX and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 28% higher in Warwick, RI. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

San Antonio, TX
Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio
$1,052
$923
+12% in San Antonio, TX
1 Bedroom
$1,084
$1,085
+0% in Warwick, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,327
$1,629
+23% in Warwick, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,545
$1,569
+2% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$219,700
$322,000
+47% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$62,917
$87,536
+39% in Warwick, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$47,010
$53,680
+14% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.6 yr
44.6 yr
+10.0 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
52.4%
73.4%
+21.0 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.7%
33.2%
+4.5 pp in Warwick, RI
Avg Commute
24.6 min
25.0 min
+0.4 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
605.7
79.5
+87% in San Antonio, TX
Property Crime
4,665.7
1,149.5
+75% in San Antonio, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
68.5°F
51.6°F
+16.9°F in San Antonio, TX
Annual Precipitation
34.9 in
47.2 in
+12.3 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.58/gal
$3.94/gal
+10% in Warwick, RI

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$1.30
—

Adult base one-way fare — VIA Metropolitan Transit vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
15.9
29.2
+83% in Warwick, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$31.89
$25.75
+19% in San Antonio, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.00
$4.31
+8% in Warwick, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.75
$1.92
+10% in Warwick, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.21
$2.19
+1% in San Antonio, TX
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.45
$6.90
+7% in Warwick, RI
Chicken (lb)
$1.90
$2.19
+15% in Warwick, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / RI)
6.25%
7%
+0.8 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
None
5.99%
+6.0 pp in RI

San Antonio vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in San Antonio or Warwick?
San Antonio, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in San Antonio than in Warwick?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in San Antonio versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, San Antonio or Warwick?
San Antonio is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).