Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Fort Worth?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Fort Worth?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Fort Worth Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 4% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Fort Worth, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 13% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio

—

$1,310

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,191

+15% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,393

+3% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,721

+2% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$277,300

+20% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$76,602

+13% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$51,440

+4% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

33.4 yr

+6.7 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

56.7%

+10.6 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

31.7%

+4.1 pp in Cranston, RI

Avg Commute

23.8 min

26.9 min

+3.1 min in Fort Worth, TX

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

465.2

+400% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

1,065.4

2,735.7

+157% in Fort Worth, TX

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

65.7°F

+14.1°F in Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

36.1 in

+11.1 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.58/gal

+9% in Cranston, RI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

15.9

+45% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$31.89

+24% in Fort Worth, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.00

+7% in Cranston, RI

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.75

+9% in Cranston, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$2.21

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.45

+6% in Cranston, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$1.90

+13% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / TX)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

None

+6.0 pp in RI

Cranston vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Fort Worth?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 4% below Fort Worth, TX's $1,390, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Fort Worth?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Fort Worth?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).