Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Henderson?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $57,000 in Henderson.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Henderson?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Henderson Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Henderson

Nevada

$1,580/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 $1,580 in Henderson, NV. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Henderson, NV, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $88,654 in Henderson, NV — about 1% higher in Henderson, NV. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Nevada has no state income tax and a 6.85% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Henderson, NV

Rent

Studio

—

$1,442

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,437

+39% in Henderson, NV

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,694

+18% in Henderson, NV

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,982

+17% in Henderson, NV

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$465,000

+33% in Henderson, NV

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$88,654

+1% in Henderson, NV

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$46,670

+13% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

42.5 yr

+2.4 yr in Henderson, NV

Homeownership

67.3%

65.6%

+1.7 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

36.8%

+1.0 pp in Henderson, NV

Avg Commute

23.8 min

24.7 min

+0.9 min in Henderson, NV

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

271.8

+192% in Henderson, NV

Property Crime

1,065.4

1,725.7

+62% in Henderson, NV

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

69.4°F

+17.8°F in Henderson, NV

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

4.2 in

+43.0 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Henderson, NV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs West Coast (PADD 5).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

13.1

+55% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$13.83

+46% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Henderson, NV

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Henderson, NV

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Henderson, NV

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 / NV)

6.85%

+0.2 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

None

+6.0 pp in RI

Cranston vs Henderson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Henderson?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Henderson, NV's $1,580, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Henderson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $57,000 in Henderson.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Henderson?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Henderson under Nevada's (no state income tax and a 6.85% 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).