What is the cost of living in Westerly, RI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Westerly has an overall cost of living index of 119, which is 1.2x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Rhode Island, Westerly has a cost of living index that's 1.1x higher than Rhode Island's index of 112.
The standard of living in Westerly ranks as #10 most affordable out of the 15 places we measured in Rhode Island. By definition, that implies Westerly ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Ocean State.
For more reading on life in Westerly, check out:
Westerly Cost Of Living Vs. Rhode Island
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Westerly. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Westerly is 108.
The Groceries index in Westerly is 107.
The Health index in Westerly is 150.
The Housing index in Westerly is 103.
The Transportation index in Westerly is 108.
The Utilities index in Westerly is 109.
| Living Expense | Westerly | Rhode Island | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 119 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 107 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 150 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 108 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 108 | 100 |
Westerly Cost Of Living Compared To Rhode Island Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Rhode Island, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Rhode Island
- Most Affordable Cities In Rhode Island
- Average Rent In Rhode Island
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Westerly, RI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Rhode Island, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Westerly is $623,538.
The Median Rent in Westerly is $1,260.
The Median Income in Westerly is $95,207.
The Home Value To Income in Westerly is 6.5x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Westerly is 0.16x.
| Statistic | Westerly | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $623,538 | $499,271 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,260 | $1,342 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $95,207 | $87,796 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.5x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.16x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Westerly, RI Costs By Category
Detailed Westerly Services costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Westerly | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Westerly Groceries costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Westerly | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Westerly Health costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Westerly | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Westerly Transportation costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Westerly | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Westerly Utilities costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Westerly | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Westerly SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Westerly
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Westerly. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Groton, CT has a cost of living index of 110, 0.9x Westerly.
Pawcatuck, CT has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Westerly.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Westerly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groton, CT | 9,490 | 110 | 0.9x |
| Pawcatuck, CT | 5,577 | 116 | 1.0x |








