City Comparison

Springfield vs Warwick

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Springfield

Illinois
78
Very Affordable
$162,000
Median Home
$925/mo
Median Rent
$65,500
Median Income

Warwick

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

The Verdict

26.4%

Springfield is 26.4% less expensive than Warwick overall. A household earning $75,000 in Springfield would need approximately $101,923 in Warwick to maintain the same standard of living.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

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

Housing
52
Springfield
127
Warwick
Groceries
98
Springfield
102
Warwick
Utilities
98
Springfield
112
Warwick
Transportation
114
Springfield
105
Warwick
Healthcare
91
Springfield
103
Warwick

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Springfield has the same purchasing power as $101,923 in Warwick.

Conversely, $75,000 in Warwick equals $55,189 in Springfield.

Living in Springfield vs Warwick

Housing Costs

Springfield's housing index of 52 is lower Warwick's 127, translating to median home prices of $162,000 vs $413,000. The $251,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,320 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $925/mo in Springfield compared to $1,425/mo in Warwick, a monthly difference of $500.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 98 in Springfield and 102 in Warwick. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $466/month in Springfield 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 98 in Springfield and 112 in Warwick. Monthly utility bills average approximately $392 in Springfield 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 91 in Springfield and 103 in Warwick. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 12-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.

Income & Purchasing Power

Median household income is $65,500 in Springfield and $74,600 in Warwick. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $83,974 and $70,377 respectively. Springfield residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.

Relocation Considerations

Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,528/month to housing in Springfield vs $1,741/month in Warwick. In Springfield, median rent of $925/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 75 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Springfield is 26.4% more affordable overall with an index of 78 vs 106.
A $75,000 salary in Springfield has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $101,923 in Warwick, based on the cost of living difference.
Springfield's housing index is 52 with median homes at $162,000, while Warwick's is 127 with median homes at $413,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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