City Comparison

Alexandria vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Alexandria

Virginia
145
Expensive
$590,000
Median Home
$2,125/mo
Median Rent
$119,700
Median Income

Warwick

Rhode Island
106
Above Average
$413,000
Median Home
$1,425/mo
Median Rent
$74,600
Median Income

The Verdict

36.8%

Living in Warwick costs 36.8% less than Alexandria. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Alexandria, you would need $54,828 in Warwick.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
201
Alexandria
127
Warwick
Groceries
113
Alexandria
102
Warwick
Utilities
97
Alexandria
112
Warwick
Transportation
107
Alexandria
105
Warwick
Healthcare
102
Alexandria
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has the same purchasing power as $54,828 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $102,594 in Alexandria.

Living in Alexandria vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Alexandria's housing index of 201 is higher Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $590,000 vs $413,000. The $177,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,508 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,125/mo in Alexandria compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $700.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 113 in Alexandria and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $537/month in Alexandria vs $485/month in Warwick. Warwick offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $624/year.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 97 in Alexandria and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $388 in Alexandria vs $448 in Warwick. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 102 in Alexandria and 103 in Warwick. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $119,700 in Alexandria and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,552 and $70,377 respectively. Alexandria residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,793/month to housing in Alexandria vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Alexandria, median rent of $2,125/mo fits within this budget. In Warwick, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 74 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warwick is 36.8% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 145.
A $75,000 salary in Alexandria has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $54,828 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Alexandria's housing index is 201 with median homes at $590,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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