Is Cranston expensive to live in?

Cranston is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,032 per month ranks #82 of 158 and is about the same as the $1,043 median.

What is the average rent in Cranston?

Average rent in Cranston, RI runs a one-bedroom around $1,032, a two-bedroom around $1,438, a three-bedroom around $1,688 per month (US Census ACS).

How much do you need to earn to live in Cranston?

To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,032 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $87,716.

How much does it cost to live in Cranston per month?

A rough monthly baseline for one person in Cranston is about $1,330 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Cost of Living in Cranston, RI

Population 82,632 · Rhode Island

~$1,330/mo est.1BR $1,032Home $348,800

Compare with:

The cost of living in Cranston, RI is driven mostly by housing. A one-bedroom apartment rents for around $1,032 a month — about the same as the $1,043 median across the 158 large US cities we track.

Median household income here is $87,716, 30% higher than the $67,696 median of the cities we track. Adding typical electricity and heating to one-bedroom rent, a rough monthly baseline for one person is about $1,330 before food and transport. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent1BR $1,032

Studio

—

1 Bedroom

$1,032

2 Bedroom

$1,438

3 Bedroom

$1,688

Buying a Home$348,800

Median Home Value

$348,800

Income$87,716

Median Household Income

$87,716

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

Household income: Census ACS, city. Metro median wage: BLS OEWS, all occupations, 2025 (metro area).

GroceriesNortheast

Milk (gal)

$4.31

Bread (lb)

$1.92

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

Average prices, Northeast (BLS, 2026-07-01). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

Utilities29.2¢/kWh

Electricity

29.2¢/kWh

Natural Gas

$25.75/MCF

Residential, state-level averages (EIA, 2026-06-01). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Gas$3.94/gal

Regular Gasoline (East Coast (PADD 1))

$3.94/gal

EIA weekly retail average, week of 2026-08-31.

State Taxes (RI)7% sales

State Sales Tax

State Income Tax (top rate)

Up to 5.99%

State-level rates. Local sales taxes may add more. Income tax shown is the top marginal rate; most filers pay less.

Crime93.1 violent

Violent Crime (per 100k/yr)

93.1

Property Crime (per 100k/yr)

1,065.4

FBI Crime Data Explorer, Cranston Police Department (2024). Offenses per 100,000 residents per year. Agency reporting practices vary, so cross-city comparisons are approximate.

People & LifestyleAge 40.1 yrs

Median Age

40.1 yrs

Homeownership

67.3%

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

Avg Commute

23.8 min

Climate51.6°F

Avg Annual Temperature

51.6°F

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

Cranston cost of living — FAQ

Is Cranston expensive to live in?: Cranston is around the middle of the 158 US cities we track. Its one-bedroom rent of $1,032 per month ranks #82 of 158 and is about the same as the $1,043 median.
What is the average rent in Cranston?: Average rent in Cranston, RI runs a one-bedroom around $1,032, a two-bedroom around $1,438, a three-bedroom around $1,688 per month (US Census ACS).
How much do you need to earn to live in Cranston?: To keep a one-bedroom rent of $1,032 near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year. The median household income here is $87,716.
How much does it cost to live in Cranston per month?: A rough monthly baseline for one person in Cranston is about $1,330 — one-bedroom rent plus typical residential electricity and heating. It excludes food, transport, and healthcare, so a full budget is higher.

Compare Cranston with nearby cities

Cranston vs Providence Cranston vs Warwick Cranston vs Worcester Cranston vs Cambridge Cranston vs Boston Cranston vs Hartford

Nearby cities

Providence, RI 3 mi Warwick, RI 6 mi Worcester, MA 38 mi Cambridge, MA 44 mi Boston, MA 45 mi Hartford, CT 64 mi

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981-2010 (climate); EIA (gas, utilities); BLS Average Price Data (groceries) & OEWS (metro wage); transit agencies (fares); FBI Crime Data Explorer (crime); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes). Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + utilities; not a full cost of living.