City Comparison

Fort Lauderdale vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Fort Lauderdale

Florida
122
Expensive
$380,000
Median Home
$2,000/mo
Median Rent
$54,468
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

15.1%

Warwick is 15.1% less expensive than Fort Lauderdale overall. A household earning $75,000 in Fort Lauderdale would need approximately $65,164 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
155
Fort Lauderdale
127
Warwick
Groceries
106
Fort Lauderdale
102
Warwick
Utilities
96
Fort Lauderdale
112
Warwick
Transportation
108
Fort Lauderdale
105
Warwick
Healthcare
99
Fort Lauderdale
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has the same purchasing power as $65,164 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $86,321 in Fort Lauderdale.

Living in Fort Lauderdale vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Fort Lauderdale's housing index of 155 is higher Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $380,000 vs $413,000. The $33,000 difference in home prices means roughly $2,148 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $2,000/mo in Fort Lauderdale compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $575.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 106 in Fort Lauderdale and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $504/month in Fort Lauderdale 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 96 in Fort Lauderdale and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $384 in Fort Lauderdale 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 99 in Fort Lauderdale 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 $54,468 in Fort Lauderdale and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $44,646 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 $1,271/month to housing in Fort Lauderdale vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Fort Lauderdale, median rent of $2,000/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 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warwick is 15.1% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 122.
A $75,000 salary in Fort Lauderdale has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $65,164 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Fort Lauderdale's housing index is 155 with median homes at $380,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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