City Comparison

Boulder vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Boulder

Colorado
148
Expensive
$750,000
Median Home
$2,300/mo
Median Rent
$73,123
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

39.6%

The cost gap between these cities is 39.6%, with Warwick being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to $53,716 in Warwick.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
230
Boulder
127
Warwick
Groceries
107
Boulder
102
Warwick
Utilities
94
Boulder
112
Warwick
Transportation
103
Boulder
105
Warwick
Healthcare
104
Boulder
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Boulder has the same purchasing power as $53,716 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $104,717 in Boulder.

Living in Boulder vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Boulder's housing index of 230 is higher Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $750,000 vs $413,000. The $337,000 difference in home prices means roughly $21,900 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,300/mo in Boulder compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $875.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Boulder and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Boulder vs $485/month in Warwick. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.

Utility Expenses

Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 94 in Boulder and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Boulder 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 104 in Boulder 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 $73,123 in Boulder and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,407 and $70,377 respectively. Warwick residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,706/month to housing in Boulder vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Boulder, median rent of $2,300/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. 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 103 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warwick is 39.6% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 148.
A $75,000 salary in Boulder has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $53,716 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Boulder's housing index is 230 with median homes at $750,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

Moving PlannersFinance BooksBudget Planners

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases