City Comparison

Ithaca vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Ithaca

New York
94
Below Average
$324,000
Median Home
$1,475/mo
Median Rent
$48,600
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

11.3%

Ithaca is 11.3% less expensive than Warwick overall. A household earning $75,000 in Ithaca would need approximately $84,574 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
117
Ithaca
127
Warwick
Groceries
103
Ithaca
102
Warwick
Utilities
102
Ithaca
112
Warwick
Transportation
96
Ithaca
105
Warwick
Healthcare
99
Ithaca
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has the same purchasing power as $84,574 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $66,509 in Ithaca.

Living in Ithaca vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Ithaca's housing index of 117 is lower Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $324,000 vs $413,000. The $89,000 difference in home prices means roughly $5,784 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,475/mo in Ithaca compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $50.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Ithaca and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Ithaca 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 102 in Ithaca and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $408 in Ithaca vs $448 in Warwick. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 99 in Ithaca 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 $48,600 in Ithaca and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $51,702 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 $1,134/month to housing in Ithaca vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Ithaca, median rent of $1,475/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 10 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ithaca is 11.3% more affordable overall with an index of 94 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Ithaca has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $84,574 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Ithaca's housing index is 117 with median homes at $324,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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