Living Cost Compare
Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,250/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 $1,250 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $87,536 in Warwick, RI and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 37% higher in Warwick, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Warwick, RI
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$923
$1,103
+20% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,085
$1,024
+6% in Warwick, RI
2 Bedroom
$1,629
$1,213
+26% in Warwick, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,569
$1,394
+11% in Warwick, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$322,000
$224,500
+30% in Warwick, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$87,536
$55,269
+37% in Warwick, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$54,310
+1% in Wilmington, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
44.6 yr
37.0 yr
+7.6 yr in Warwick, RI
Homeownership
73.4%
46.0%
+27.4 pp in Warwick, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
33.2%
33.1%
+0.1 pp in Warwick, RI
Avg Commute
25.0 min
23.0 min
+2.0 min in Warwick, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
79.5
1,138.2
+1332% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,149.5
3,182.4
+177% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+3.3°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
43.1 in
+4.1 in in Warwick, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.2
19.3
+34% in Warwick, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.75
$29.73
+15% in Wilmington, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Warwick, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Warwick, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Wilmington, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Warwick, RI
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Warwick, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Warwick, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / DE)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in DE

Warwick vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Warwick or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,250 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Warwick than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Warwick versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Warwick or Wilmington?
Warwick is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).