Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Warwick?

Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $43,000 in Warwick.

Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Warwick?

Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax); Warwick under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Tampa vs Warwick Cost of Living 2026

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL versus $1,390 in Warwick, RI. Overall, Warwick, RI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $71,302 in Tampa, FL and $87,536 in Warwick, RI — about 19% higher in Warwick, RI. Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Tampa, FL

Warwick, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,242

$923

+26% in Tampa, FL

1 Bedroom

$1,324

$1,085

+18% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,673

$1,629

+3% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,729

$1,569

+9% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$375,300

$322,000

+14% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$71,302

$87,536

+23% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$48,940

$53,680

+10% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.6 yr

44.6 yr

+9.0 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

50.2%

73.4%

+23.2 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.6%

33.2%

+11.4 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

24.7 min

25.0 min

+0.3 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

443.2

79.5

+82% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

1,473.2

1,149.5

+22% in Tampa, FL

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

73.4°F

51.6°F

+21.8°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

46.3 in

47.2 in

+0.9 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.83/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Warwick, RI

Area: Florida vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$2.00

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.1

29.2

+94% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.62

$25.75

+9% in Warwick, RI

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 Tampa, FL

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 (FL / RI)

+1.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

None

5.99%

+6.0 pp in RI

Tampa vs Warwick — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Tampa or Warwick?: Warwick, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Tampa than in Warwick?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $53,000 a year in Tampa versus $43,000 in Warwick.
Which has lower taxes, Tampa or Warwick?: Tampa is taxed under Florida's rules (no state income tax and a 6% 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).