City Comparison

Racine vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Racine

Wisconsin
88
Below Average
$126,000
Median Home
$1,025/mo
Median Rent
$57,700
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

17.0%

Racine is 17.0% less expensive than Warwick overall. A household earning $75,000 in Racine would need approximately $90,341 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
66
Racine
127
Warwick
Groceries
97
Racine
102
Warwick
Utilities
94
Racine
112
Warwick
Transportation
90
Racine
105
Warwick
Healthcare
111
Racine
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Racine has the same purchasing power as $90,341 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $62,264 in Racine.

Living in Racine vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Racine's housing index of 66 is lower Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $126,000 vs $413,000. The $287,000 difference in home prices means roughly $18,660 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,025/mo in Racine compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $400.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 97 in Racine and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $461/month in Racine 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 94 in Racine and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $376 in Racine 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 111 in Racine 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 $57,700 in Racine and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $65,568 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 $1,346/month to housing in Racine vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Racine, median rent of $1,025/mo fits within this budget. 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 61 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Racine is 17.0% more affordable overall with an index of 88 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Racine has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $90,341 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Racine's housing index is 66 with median homes at $126,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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