Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Denver?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $63,000 in Denver.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Denver?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Denver Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Denver

Colorado

$1,760/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $1,760 in Denver, CO. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 24% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Denver, CO, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $91,681 in Denver, CO — about 4% higher in Denver, CO. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Colorado has a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Denver, CO

Rent

Studio

—

$1,497

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,583

+53% in Denver, CO

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,958

+36% in Denver, CO

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$2,269

+34% in Denver, CO

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$586,700

+68% in Denver, CO

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$91,681

+5% in Denver, CO

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$62,320

+16% in Denver, CO

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

35.2 yr

+4.9 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

49.1%

+18.2 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

55.6%

+19.8 pp in Denver, CO

Avg Commute

23.8 min

25.4 min

+1.6 min in Denver, CO

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

999.3

+973% in Denver, CO

Property Crime

1,065.4

4,781.1

+349% in Denver, CO

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

51.6°F

50.2°F

+1.4°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

15.6 in

+31.6 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$4.16/gal

+6% in Denver, CO

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Denver.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

17.1

+41% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$15.05

+42% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Denver, CO

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Denver, CO

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Denver, CO

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.01

+8% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.70

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / CO)

2.9%

+4.1 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

4.40%

+1.6 pp in RI

Cranston vs Denver — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Denver?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 24% below Denver, CO's $1,760, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Denver?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $63,000 in Denver.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Denver?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Denver under Colorado's (a top state income tax rate of 4.40% and a 2.9% 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).