Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Cranston?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $41,000 in Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Cranston?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/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 $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 8% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 35% higher in Cranston, RI. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$950

—

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,032

+13% in Bridgeport, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$1,438

+5% in Bridgeport, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$1,688

+3% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$348,800

+38% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$87,716

+55% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

$53,680

+13% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

40.1 yr

+3.7 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

43.3%

67.3%

+24.0 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

35.8%

+12.7 pp in Cranston, RI

Avg Commute

29.9 min

23.8 min

+6.1 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

93.1

+77% in Bridgeport, CT

Property Crime

1,478.4

1,065.4

+28% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

52.5°F

51.6°F

+0.9°F in Bridgeport, CT

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

47.2 in

+4.4 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

24.3

29.2

+20% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$25.75

+10% in Cranston, RI

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 (CT / RI)

6.35%

+0.7 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

5.99%

+1.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Cranston?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 8% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Cranston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Cranston?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).