Is it cheaper to live in Warwick or Worcester?

Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

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 Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Warwick or Worcester?

Warwick is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Warwick vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Warwick

Rhode Island

$1,390/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/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 $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Worcester, MA is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Warwick, RI, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,536 in Warwick, RI and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 23% higher in Warwick, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Warwick, RI

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$923

$1,087

+18% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$1,085

$1,028

+5% in Warwick, RI

2 Bedroom

$1,629

$1,476

+9% in Warwick, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,569

$1,675

+7% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$322,000

$339,500

+5% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$87,536

$67,544

+23% in Warwick, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$57,830

+8% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

44.6 yr

34.1 yr

+10.5 yr in Warwick, RI

Homeownership

73.4%

42.4%

+31.0 pp in Warwick, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

33.2%

34.1%

+0.9 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

25.0 min

25.1 min

+0.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

79.5

640.2

+705% in Worcester, MA

Property Crime

1,149.5

1,580.3

+37% in Worcester, MA

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

47.9°F

+3.7°F in Warwick, RI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

48.1 in

+0.9 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.07/gal

+3% in Worcester, MA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

29.6

+1% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$30.66

+19% in Worcester, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / MA)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

9.00%

+3.0 pp in MA

Warwick vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Warwick or Worcester?: Worcester, MA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,340 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Warwick, RI's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Warwick than in Worcester?: 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 Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Warwick or Worcester?: Warwick is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).