Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas
A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,330 in Cranston, RI versus $1,330 in Providence, RI. The two are close overall, within a few percent of each other.
Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $66,772 in Providence, RI — about 24% higher in Cranston, RI. Both cities are in Rhode Island, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax.
Rent
Buying a Home
Income
People & Lifestyle
Crime (per 100k/yr)
FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.
Climate
Gas
Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).
Utilities
Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.
Groceries
Average prices — Northeast vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.
State Taxes
Cranston vs Providence — FAQ
- Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Providence?
- They're close. Cranston, RI runs about $1,330 a month and Providence, RI about $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) — within a few percent of each other.
- How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Providence?
- To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $41,000 in Providence.
- Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Providence?
- Neither — both are in Rhode Island, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% 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).