Raleigh vs Warwick
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Raleigh
Warwick
💡 The Verdict
Raleigh is 12% cheaper than Warwick overall. A $75,000 salary in Raleigh is equivalent to $85,294 in Warwick.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Raleigh (left) vs Warwick (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Raleigh versus Warwick. Differences shown from Raleigh perspective.
| Item | Raleigh | Warwick | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,010/mo | $1,090/mo | $-80.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,500/mo | $1,570/mo | $-70.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $1,950/mo | $2,030/mo | $-80.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.89 | $3.04 | $-0.15 |
| Milk (gallon) | $3.88 | $4.27 | $-0.39 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $3.31 | $3.76 | $-0.45 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.93 | $6.20 | $-0.27 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.37 | $3.47 | $-0.10 |
| Restaurant Meal | $18.36 | $17.11 | +$1.25 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Raleigh has the same purchasing power as $85,294 in Warwick.
Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $65,948 in Raleigh.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
Both states have similar effective tax rates on this salary level. North Carolina details → · Rhode Island details →
Reading These Numbers: Raleigh (102) vs Warwick (116)
Raleigh at 102 is 2% 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 Raleigh, the composite index of 102 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 107, followed by groceries (100), utilities (94), transportation (100), and healthcare (108). Costs are fairly balanced across categories.
For renters: With median rents of $1,500/mo in Raleigh and $1,570/mo in Warwick, the annual rent difference is approximately $840.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $4,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $20,000.0 difference in median home prices between Raleigh 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: Raleigh vs Warwick
Choosing between Raleigh 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.
Long-term affordability in Raleigh versus Warwick depends partly on cost trajectory. Cities experiencing rapid population growth tend to see costs rise faster than established metros where supply has caught up with demand. While our index captures current conditions, consider whether the city trending cheaper today might converge toward average over the next five to ten years as more people discover it. Our quarterly updates help track these shifts over time.