Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Warwick, RI and Chicago, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Warwick, RI: $2,746 a month against $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent and utilities included – about $4,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

134

Cost of Living Index in Warwick, RI
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Warwick, RI Living Index
152

Cost of Living Index in Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL Living Index

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Warwick, RI

🇺🇸 United States

$2,746

/mo nomad

Chicago, IL

🇺🇸 United States

$3,139

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Warwick, RI and in Chicago, IL

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Warwick, RI and in Chicago, IL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,746 per month in Warwick, RI vs $3,139 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warwick, RI $2,746
Chicago, IL $3,139

A couple spends around $4,048 per month in Warwick, RI vs $4,627 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warwick, RI $4,048
Chicago, IL $4,627

A family of three spends $5,350 per month in Warwick, RI vs $6,115 in Chicago, IL, rent included.

Warwick, RI $5,350
Chicago, IL $6,115

Warwick, RI is about 13% cheaper than Chicago, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Warwick, RI and Chicago, IL sit above the global median – Warwick, RI by 103%, Chicago, IL by 132%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.57 $20.57

$20.65 $20.65

-0.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$95.3 $95.3

$90.2 $90.2

5.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.04 $12.04

$12.94 $12.94

-6.96%

Cappuccino

$3.94 $3.94

$5.60 $5.60

-29.64%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.81 $2.81

$2.64 $2.64

6.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 $1.54

$2.27 $2.27

-32.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.06 $5.06

$6.98 $6.98

-27.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.70 $7.70

$8.83 $8.83

-12.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 $1.30

$1.27 $1.27

2.36%

White Bread (500g)

$4.28 $4.28

$3.80 $3.80

12.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.16 $4.16

$5.30 $5.30

-21.51%

Eggs

$4.17 $4.17

$4.76 $4.76

-12.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.41 $11.41

$13.96 $13.96

-18.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.98 $12.98

$14.61 $14.61

-11.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.00 $17.00

$18.77 $18.77

-9.43%

Apples (1kg)

$6.52 $6.52

$5.19 $5.19

25.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.98 $1.98

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.75 $4.75

$3.93 $3.93

20.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.42 $4.42

$4.96 $4.96

-10.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.59 $1.59

$2.76 $2.76

-42.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 $2.61

$2.76 $2.76

-5.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 $1.17

$2.22 $2.22

-47.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$3.11 $3.11

$2.98 $2.98

4.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.82 $13.82

$14.02 $14.02

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.31 $13.31

$15.28 $15.28

-12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$2.58 $2.58

-33.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 $1.96

$3.50 $3.50

-44.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$2.47 $2.47

-17.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$69.8 $69.8

$74.8 $74.8

-6.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.01 $6.01

$3.34 $3.34

79.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.79 $1.79

$1.43 $1.43

25.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$31.87 $31.87

$24.32 $24.32

31.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.08 $1.08

$1.26 $1.26

-14.29%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.6K $27.6K

$35.0K $35.0K

-21.27%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K $26.1K

0.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$325 $325

$193 $193

68.46%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$74.5 $74.5

$68.3 $68.3

9.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.8 $76.8

$61.3 $61.3

25.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.12 $44.12

$54.1 $54.1

-18.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.92 $27.92

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 $13.12

$17.74 $17.74

-26.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$815 $815

$1,652 $1,652

-50.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.4K $30.4K

$31.1K $31.1K

-2.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.6 $55.6

$66.1 $66.1

-15.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.34 $37.34

$51.2 $51.2

-27.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.8 $51.8

$100 $100

-48.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.9 $98.9

$141 $141

-29.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,580 $1,580

$2,446 $2,446

-35.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,277 $1,277

$1,678 $1,678

-23.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,469 $2,469

$4,717 $4,717

-47.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,173 $2,173

$2,795 $2,795

-22.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,550 $4,550

$4,105 $4,105

10.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,341 $2,341

$2,650 $2,650

-11.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,601 $5,601

$4,866 $4,866

15.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

6.81

-3.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Warwick, RI: October 18, 2026

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Warwick, RI

$1.3K 46.5%

Chicago, IL

$1.7K 53.5% 31.3% $400

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Warwick, RI

$476 17.3%

Chicago, IL

$322 10.3% 32.3% $154

Groceries & Markets

Warwick, RI

$414 15.1%

Chicago, IL

$449 14.3% 8.5% $35

Eating Out

Warwick, RI

$306 11.1%

Chicago, IL

$343 10.9% 12.2% $37

Clothing & Footwear

Warwick, RI

$110 4%

Chicago, IL

$161 5.1% 47.1% $52

Getting Around

Warwick, RI

$93 3.4%

Chicago, IL

$95 3% 2.4% $2.3

Sport & Entertainment

Warwick, RI

$70 2.6%

Chicago, IL

$90 2.9% 27.3% $19

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,580 in Warwick, RI versus $2,446 in Chicago, IL. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 15% higher in Warwick, RI, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Warwick, RI versus $90.0 in Chicago, IL. Groceries tell a different story – $414 in Warwick, RI vs $449 in Chicago, IL – so Warwick, RI wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Warwick, RI

🇺🇸 Chicago, IL

🕒 Local time

05:32 5:32 AM

04:32 4:32 AM

1 h behind Warwick, RI

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

85,925

2,746,388

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Highest

Between locations

Warwick, RI Chicago, IL 1,340 km ≈ 2 h 15 min nonstop flight

From you

Warwick, RI
Chicago, IL

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Warwick, RI vs Chicago, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,746 in Warwick, RI, $3,139 in Chicago, IL – roughly 14% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $4,120 per month in Warwick, RI and $4,708 in Chicago, IL. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Warwick, RI, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 8% more in Chicago, IL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Warwick, RI and $90.0 in Chicago, IL. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$3,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,746 in Warwick, RI and $3,139 in Chicago, IL. You'll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.

It depends on your priorities. Chicago, IL has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,746 in Warwick, RI to $3,139 in Chicago, IL. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Warwick, RI. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chicago, IL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.