Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Cranston?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Cranston?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $41,000 in Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Boston or Cranston?

Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Boston vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Boston

Massachusetts

$2,290/mo est.

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,290 in Boston, MA versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 42% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Boston, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $94,755 in Boston, MA and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 7% higher in Boston, MA. Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Boston, MA

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,890

—

1 Bedroom

$1,978

$1,032

+48% in Boston, MA

2 Bedroom

$2,155

$1,438

+33% in Boston, MA

3 Bedroom

$2,234

$1,688

+24% in Boston, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$710,400

$348,800

+51% in Boston, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$94,755

$87,716

+7% in Boston, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$66,620

$53,680

+19% in Boston, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.2 yr

40.1 yr

+6.9 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

35.4%

67.3%

+31.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

54.1%

35.8%

+18.3 pp in Boston, MA

Avg Commute

30.2 min

23.8 min

+6.4 min in Boston, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

630.2

93.1

+85% in Boston, MA

Property Crime

2,030.8

1,065.4

+48% in Boston, MA

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.5°F

51.6°F

+0.1°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

43.8 in

47.2 in

+3.4 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$4.07/gal

$3.94/gal

+3% in Boston, MA

Area: Massachusetts vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.6

29.2

+1% in Boston, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.66

$25.75

+16% in Boston, MA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MA / RI)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

9.00%

5.99%

+3.0 pp in MA

Boston vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Boston or Cranston?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 42% below Boston, MA's $2,290, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Boston than in Cranston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $79,000 a year in Boston versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Boston or Cranston?: Boston is taxed under Massachusetts's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% 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).