City Comparison

Modesto vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Modesto

California
112
Above Average
$380,000
Median Home
$1,400/mo
Median Rent
$55,138
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

5.7%

Living in Warwick costs 5.7% less than Modesto. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Modesto, you would need $70,982 in Warwick.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
121
Modesto
127
Warwick
Groceries
100
Modesto
102
Warwick
Utilities
108
Modesto
112
Warwick
Transportation
111
Modesto
105
Warwick
Healthcare
100
Modesto
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Modesto has the same purchasing power as $70,982 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $79,245 in Modesto.

Living in Modesto vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Modesto's housing index of 121 is lower 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: $1,400/mo in Modesto compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $25.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 100 in Modesto and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $475/month in Modesto 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 108 in Modesto and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $432 in Modesto vs $448 in Warwick. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 100 in Modesto 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 $55,138 in Modesto and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $49,230 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 $1,287/month to housing in Modesto vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Modesto, median rent of $1,400/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 6 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Warwick is 5.7% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 112.
A $75,000 salary in Modesto has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $70,982 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Modesto's housing index is 121 with median homes at $380,000, 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