Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Juneau?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $50,000 in Juneau.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Juneau?

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

Cranston vs Juneau Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Juneau

Alaska

$1,530/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 $1,530 in Juneau, AK. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Juneau, AK, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $100,513 in Juneau, AK — about 13% higher in Juneau, AK. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Juneau, AK

Rent

Studio

—

$993

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,257

+22% in Juneau, AK

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,647

+15% in Juneau, AK

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,949

+15% in Juneau, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$432,500

+24% in Juneau, AK

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$100,513

+15% in Juneau, AK

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

—

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

39.8 yr

+0.3 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

64.4%

+2.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

40.5%

+4.7 pp in Juneau, AK

Avg Commute

23.8 min

15.8 min

+8.0 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

515.6

+454% in Juneau, AK

Property Crime

1,065.4

2,113.1

+98% in Juneau, AK

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

42.1°F

+9.5°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

62.3 in

+15.1 in in Juneau, AK

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$5.21/gal

+32% in Juneau, AK

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

28.2

+3% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$17.35

+33% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Juneau, AK

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Juneau, AK

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Juneau, AK

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 / AK)

None

+7.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

None

+6.0 pp in RI

Cranston vs Juneau — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Juneau?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below Juneau, AK's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Juneau?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $50,000 in Juneau.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Juneau?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Juneau under Alaska's (no state income tax and no 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).