Living Cost Compare
Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$1,430/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 $1,430 in Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 7% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Philadelphia, PA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 31% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
—
$1,126
1 Bedroom
$1,032
$1,189
+15% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,438
$1,394
+3% in Cranston, RI
3 Bedroom
$1,688
$1,406
+17% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$348,800
$232,400
+33% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income
$87,716
$60,698
+31% in Cranston, RI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$53,680
$54,310
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
40.1 yr
35.1 yr
+5.0 yr in Cranston, RI
Homeownership
67.3%
52.3%
+15.0 pp in Cranston, RI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
35.8%
34.6%
+1.2 pp in Cranston, RI
Avg Commute
23.8 min
32.0 min
+8.2 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
93.1
917.1
+885% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,065.4
4,615.3
+333% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+5.5°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
47.2 in
48.5 in
+1.3 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
29.2
21.7
+26% in Cranston, RI
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$25.75
$26.08
+1% in Philadelphia, PA

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (RI / PA)
7%
6%
+1.0 pp in RI
Income Tax (top rate)
5.99%
3.07%
+2.9 pp in RI

Cranston vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Philadelphia?
Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 7% below Philadelphia, PA's $1,430, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Philadelphia?
Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).