City Comparison

Portland vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Portland

Maine
117
Above Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,700/mo
Median Rent
$56,895
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

10.4%

Warwick is 10.4% less expensive than Portland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Portland would need approximately $67,949 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
137
Portland
127
Warwick
Groceries
107
Portland
102
Warwick
Utilities
111
Portland
112
Warwick
Transportation
98
Portland
105
Warwick
Healthcare
110
Portland
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Portland has the same purchasing power as $67,949 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $82,783 in Portland.

Living in Portland vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Portland's housing index of 137 is higher Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $413,000. The $18,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,176 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,700/mo in Portland compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $275.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 107 in Portland and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $508/month in Portland 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 111 in Portland and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $444 in Portland vs $448 in Warwick. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 110 in Portland 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 $56,895 in Portland and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $48,628 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 $1,328/month to housing in Portland vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/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

Warwick is 10.4% more affordable overall with an index of 106 vs 117.
A $75,000 salary in Portland has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $67,949 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Portland's housing index is 137 with median homes at $395,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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