Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Rochester?

Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $44,000 in Rochester.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Rochester?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Rochester Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Rochester

Minnesota

$1,290/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 $1,290 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Cranston, RI, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $87,767 in Rochester, MN. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio

—

$1,080

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,106

+7% in Rochester, MN

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,243

+14% in Cranston, RI

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,646

+2% in Cranston, RI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$287,500

+18% in Cranston, RI

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$87,767

+0% in Rochester, MN

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$60,620

+13% in Rochester, MN

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

36.4 yr

+3.7 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

65.4%

+1.9 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

50.1%

+14.3 pp in Rochester, MN

Avg Commute

23.8 min

17.2 min

+6.6 min in Cranston, RI

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

158.9

+71% in Rochester, MN

Property Crime

1,065.4

1,379

+29% in Rochester, MN

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

45.4°F

+6.2°F in Cranston, RI

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

33.0 in

+14.2 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.96/gal

+0% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

17.5

+40% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$14.79

+43% 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 Rochester, MN

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 / MN)

6.875%

+0.1 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

9.85%

+3.9 pp in MN

Cranston vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Rochester?: Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,290 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Cranston, RI's $1,330, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Rochester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Rochester?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).