Living Cost Compare
Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Los Angeles

California

$2,030/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 $2,030 in Los Angeles, CA. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 34% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Los Angeles, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $80,366 in Los Angeles, CA — about 8% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI
Los Angeles, CA

Rent

Studio
—
$1,468
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,688
+64% in Los Angeles, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,438
$2,148
+49% in Los Angeles, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$2,489
+47% in Los Angeles, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,800
$879,500
+152% in Los Angeles, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$87,716
$80,366
+8% in Cranston, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$55,850
+4% in Los Angeles, CA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
36.9 yr
+3.2 yr in Cranston, RI
Homeownership
67.3%
36.3%
+31.0 pp in Cranston, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
37.8%
+2.0 pp in Los Angeles, CA
Avg Commute
23.8 min
31.1 min
+7.3 min in Los Angeles, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
93.1
730.3
+684% in Los Angeles, CA
Property Crime
1,065.4
1,501.4
+41% in Los Angeles, CA

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
67.0°F
+15.4°F in Los Angeles, CA
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
21.2 in
+25.9 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$5.53/gal
+41% in Los Angeles, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Los Angeles.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.75

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.2
34.7
+19% in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.75
$20.33
+21% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Los Angeles, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Los Angeles, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Los Angeles, CA
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 / CA)
7%
7.25%
+0.3 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
13.30%
+7.3 pp in CA

Cranston vs Los Angeles — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Los Angeles?
Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 34% below Los Angeles, CA's $2,030, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Los Angeles?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $68,000 in Los Angeles.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Los Angeles?
Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Los Angeles under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).