Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Cranston?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $41,000 in Cranston.

Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Cranston?

Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax); Cranston under Rhode Island's (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax).

Burlington vs Cranston Cost of Living 2026

Burlington

Vermont

$1,540/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 $1,540 in Burlington, VT versus $1,330 in Cranston, RI. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 14% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Burlington, VT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $68,854 in Burlington, VT and $87,716 in Cranston, RI — about 22% higher in Cranston, RI. Vermont has a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% state sales tax; Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.

Burlington, VT

Cranston, RI

Rent

Studio

$1,284

—

1 Bedroom

$1,275

$1,032

+19% in Burlington, VT

2 Bedroom

$1,731

$1,438

+17% in Burlington, VT

3 Bedroom

$2,002

$1,688

+16% in Burlington, VT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$400,200

$348,800

+13% in Burlington, VT

Income

Median Household Income

$68,854

$87,716

+27% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$60,020

$53,680

+11% in Burlington, VT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

26.7 yr

40.1 yr

+13.4 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

39.8%

67.3%

+27.5 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

60.5%

35.8%

+24.7 pp in Burlington, VT

Avg Commute

19.2 min

23.8 min

+4.6 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

497.1

93.1

+81% in Burlington, VT

Property Crime

4,408.9

1,065.4

+76% in Burlington, VT

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.0°F

51.6°F

+5.6°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

36.8 in

47.2 in

+10.4 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)

24.4

29.2

+20% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$26.07

$25.75

+1% in Burlington, VT

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 (VT / RI)

+1.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

8.75%

5.99%

+2.8 pp in VT

Burlington vs Cranston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Burlington or Cranston?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 14% below Burlington, VT's $1,540, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Burlington than in Cranston?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $51,000 a year in Burlington versus $41,000 in Cranston.
Which has lower taxes, Burlington or Cranston?: Burlington is taxed under Vermont's rules (a top state income tax rate of 8.75% and a 6% 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).