Is it cheaper to live in Seattle or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Seattle versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Seattle or Warwick?

Seattle is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Seattle vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Seattle

Washington

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Seattle, WA versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Seattle, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $121,984 in Seattle, WA and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 28% higher in Seattle, WA. Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Seattle, WA

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,638

$923

+44% in Seattle, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,858

$1,085

+42% in Seattle, WA

2 Bedroom

$2,359

$1,629

+31% in Seattle, WA

3 Bedroom

$2,918

$1,569

+46% in Seattle, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$912,100

$322,000

+65% in Seattle, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$121,984

$87,536

+28% in Seattle, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$72,610

$53,680

+26% in Seattle, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.5 yr

44.6 yr

+9.1 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

44.2%

73.4%

+29.2 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

67.5%

33.2%

+34.3 pp in Seattle, WA

Avg Commute

26.6 min

25.0 min

+1.6 min in Seattle, WA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

788.6

79.5

+90% in Seattle, WA

Property Crime

5,108.8

1,149.5

+77% in Seattle, WA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

53.5°F

51.6°F

+1.9°F in Seattle, WA

Annual Precipitation

37.7 in

47.2 in

+9.5 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.41/gal

$3.94/gal

+27% in Seattle, WA

Area: Seattle vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.75

—

Adult base one-way fare — King County Metro vs — (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

14.9

29.2

+96% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.34

$25.75

+21% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Seattle, WA

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Seattle, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Seattle, WA

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 (WA / RI)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Seattle vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Seattle or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Seattle, WA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Seattle than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $74,000 a year in Seattle versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Seattle or Warwick?: Seattle is taxed under Washington's rules (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).