⚖️ City Comparison

Portland vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data

Portland

Oregon
130
Expensive
$480,000
Median Home
$1,800/mo
Median Rent
$71,005
Median Income

Warwick

Rhode Island
116
Expensive
$350,000
Median Home
$1,570/mo
Median Rent
$61,200
Median Income

💡 The Verdict

11% Cheaper

Warwick is 11% cheaper than Portland overall. A $75,000 salary in Portland is equivalent to $66,923 in Warwick.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values for Portland (left) vs Warwick (right). National average = 100.

Housing
168
Housing
116
Groceries
105
Groceries
112
Utilities
94
Utilities
113
Transportation
113
Transportation
115
Healthcare
108
Healthcare
121

Detailed Price Comparison

Estimated item-level prices in Portland versus Warwick. Differences shown from Portland perspective.

ItemPortlandWarwickDifference
1-Bed Rent$1,250/mo$1,090/mo+$160.00
2-Bed Rent$1,800/mo$1,570/mo+$230.00
3-Bed Rent$2,360/mo$2,030/mo+$330.00
Bread (loaf)$2.94$3.04$-0.10
Milk (gallon)$4.04$4.27$-0.23
Eggs (dozen)$3.41$3.76$-0.35
Coffee (latte)$5.89$6.20$-0.31
Gas (gallon)$3.71$3.47+$0.24
Restaurant Meal$20.61$17.11+$3.50

💰 Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Portland has the same purchasing power as $66,923 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $84,052 in Portland.

💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison

Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.

$51,638
Portland (Oregon)
$54,112
Warwick (Rhode Island)

The $2474 difference is driven by Oregon having a higher state income tax rate. Oregon details → · Rhode Island details →

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130 vs 116

Reading These Numbers: Portland (130) vs Warwick (116)

Portland at 130 is 30% above the US average, while Warwick at 116 is 16% above average. There is a meaningful cost gap between these two cities that affects day-to-day budgeting.

In Portland, the composite index of 130 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 168, followed by groceries (105), utilities (94), transportation (113), and healthcare (108). Housing is the primary cost driver here.

For renters: With median rents of $1,800/mo in Portland and $1,570/mo in Warwick, the annual rent difference is approximately $2,760.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $13,800.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.

For homebuyers: The $130,000.0 difference in median home prices between Portland and Warwick translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.

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Making Your Decision: Portland vs Warwick

Choosing between Portland and Warwick involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.

When weighing Portland against Warwick, think beyond the composite index. Your personal savings rate, retirement timeline, and family size all influence which cost categories dominate your budget. Someone spending sixty percent of income on housing and childcare will experience these two cities very differently than a single renter whose largest variable expense is dining out. Model your own spending breakdown against the category indices above for the most realistic comparison.