Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Naperville?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $64,000 in Naperville.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Naperville?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Naperville Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Naperville

Illinois

$1,800/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 $1,800 in Naperville, IL. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Naperville, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $150,937 in Naperville, IL — about 42% higher in Naperville, IL. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Naperville, IL

Rent

Studio

—

$1,713

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,594

+54% in Naperville, IL

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,889

+31% in Naperville, IL

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$2,446

+45% in Naperville, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$509,900

+46% in Naperville, IL

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$150,937

+72% in Naperville, IL

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$54,720

+2% in Naperville, IL

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

about equal

Homeownership

67.3%

74.3%

+7.0 pp in Naperville, IL

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

71.7%

+35.9 pp in Naperville, IL

Avg Commute

23.8 min

31.4 min

+7.6 min in Naperville, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

85.7

+8% in Cranston, RI

Property Crime

1,065.4

892.2

+16% in Cranston, RI

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

49.9°F

+1.7°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

36.9 in

+10.3 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Cranston, RI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

19.9

+32% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$19.71

+23% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Cranston, RI

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Naperville, IL

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Cranston, RI

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Cranston, RI

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / IL)

6.25%

+0.8 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

4.95%

+1.0 pp in RI

Cranston vs Naperville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Naperville?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Naperville, IL's $1,800, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Naperville?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $64,000 in Naperville.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Naperville?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Naperville under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% 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).