Is it cheaper to live in Warwick or Wichita?

Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

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

Which has lower taxes, Warwick or Wichita?

Warwick is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Warwick vs Wichita Cost of Living 2026

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Wichita

Kansas

$950/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,390 in Warwick, RI versus $950 in Wichita, KS. Overall, Wichita, KS is roughly 32% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,536 in Warwick, RI and $63,072 in Wichita, KS — about 28% higher in Warwick, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Kansas has a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Warwick, RI

Wichita, KS

Rent

Studio

$923

$726

+21% in Warwick, RI

1 Bedroom

$1,085

$761

+30% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,629

$976

+40% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,569

$1,199

+24% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,000

$179,500

+44% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,536

$63,072

+28% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$47,630

+11% in Warwick, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

44.6 yr

35.7 yr

+8.9 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

73.4%

58.4%

+15.0 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.2%

30.9%

+2.3 pp in Warwick, RI

Avg Commute

25.0 min

18.9 min

+6.1 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

79.5

1,238.7

+1458% in Wichita, KS

Property Crime

1,149.5

5,284.9

+360% in Wichita, KS

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.6°F

57.0°F

+5.4°F in Wichita, KS

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

32.6 in

+14.5 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Warwick, RI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

15.7

+46% in Warwick, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$25.12

+2% in Warwick, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Warwick, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Wichita, KS

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Warwick, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Warwick, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / KS)

6.5%

+0.5 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

5.58%

+0.4 pp in RI

Warwick vs Wichita — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Warwick or Wichita?: Wichita, KS is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $950 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 32% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Warwick than in Wichita?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Warwick versus $30,000 in Wichita.
Which has lower taxes, Warwick or Wichita?: Warwick is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Wichita under Kansas's (a top state income tax rate of 5.58% and a 6.5% 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).