Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or New Haven?

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

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or New Haven?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Cranston vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$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 New Haven, CT. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 13% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 39% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

—

$1,159

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,275

+24% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,473

+2% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,636

+3% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$249,000

+29% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$53,771

+39% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$60,060

+12% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

31.9 yr

+8.2 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

28.4%

+38.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

37.7%

+1.9 pp in New Haven, CT

Avg Commute

23.8 min

21.0 min

+2.8 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

536.3

+476% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

1,065.4

3,601.6

+238% in New Haven, CT

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

52.2°F

+0.6°F in New Haven, CT

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

47.1 in

+0.1 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

24.3

+17% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$23.33

+9% in Cranston, RI

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / CT)

6.35%

+0.7 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

6.99%

+1.0 pp in CT

Cranston vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or New Haven?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 13% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or New Haven?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).