Living Cost Compare
Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Newark

Delaware

$1,620/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 $1,620 in Newark, DE. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Newark, DE, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $71,373 in Newark, DE — about 19% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Cranston, RI
Newark, DE

Rent

Studio
—
$1,649
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,391
+35% in Newark, DE
2 Bedroom
$1,438
$1,513
+5% in Newark, DE
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,916
+14% in Newark, DE

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,800
$357,600
+3% in Newark, DE

Income

Median Household Income
$87,716
$71,373
+19% in Cranston, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$54,310
+1% in Newark, DE

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
22.0 yr
+18.1 yr in Cranston, RI
Homeownership
67.3%
50.3%
+17.0 pp in Cranston, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
57.5%
+21.7 pp in Newark, DE
Avg Commute
23.8 min
19.6 min
+4.2 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
93.1
326.3
+250% in Newark, DE
Property Crime
1,065.4
2,024.6
+90% in Newark, DE

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
54.9°F
+3.3°F in Newark, DE
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
43.1 in
+4.1 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.2
19.3
+34% in Cranston, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.75
$29.73
+15% in Newark, DE

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Cranston, RI
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Cranston, RI
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Newark, DE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Cranston, RI
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Cranston, RI
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Cranston, RI

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / DE)
7%
None
+7.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
6.60%
+0.6 pp in DE

Cranston vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Newark?
Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below Newark, DE's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Newark?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $56,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Newark?
Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Newark under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% 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).