Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 37% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 3% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,032
+41% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,438
+34% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,688
+36% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$348,800
+55% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$87,716
+3% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$53,680
+4% in Anaheim, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
40.1 yr
+4.2 yr in Cranston, RI
Homeownership
45.9%
67.3%
+21.4 pp in Cranston, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
35.8%
+7.0 pp in Cranston, RI
Avg Commute
28.2 min
23.8 min
+4.4 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
93.1
+84% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
1,065.4
+52% in Anaheim, CA

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
51.6°F
+15.5°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
47.2 in
+33.8 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
29.2
+16% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$25.75
+27% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Cranston, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / RI)
7.25%
7%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
5.99%
+7.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Cranston?
Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 37% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Cranston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Cranston?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).