Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Tampa?

Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $53,000 in Tampa.

Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Tampa?

Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax).

Cranston vs Tampa Cost of Living 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island

$1,330/mo est.

Tampa

Florida

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tampa, FL. Overall, Cranston, RI is roughly 11% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $87,716 in Cranston, RI and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 19% higher in Cranston, RI. Rhode Island has a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Cranston, RI

Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio

—

$1,242

1 Bedroom

$1,032

$1,324

+28% in Tampa, FL

2 Bedroom

$1,438

$1,673

+16% in Tampa, FL

3 Bedroom

$1,688

$1,729

+2% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$348,800

$375,300

+8% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income

$87,716

$71,302

+19% in Cranston, RI

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$53,680

$48,940

+9% in Cranston, RI

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.1 yr

35.6 yr

+4.5 yr in Cranston, RI

Homeownership

67.3%

50.2%

+17.1 pp in Cranston, RI

Bachelor's+ (25+)

35.8%

44.6%

+8.8 pp in Tampa, FL

Avg Commute

23.8 min

24.7 min

+0.9 min in Tampa, FL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

93.1

443.2

+376% in Tampa, FL

Property Crime

1,065.4

1,473.2

+38% in Tampa, FL

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

73.4°F

+21.8°F in Tampa, FL

Annual Precipitation

47.2 in

46.3 in

+0.9 in in Cranston, RI

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.83/gal

+3% in Cranston, RI

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

29.2

15.1

+48% in Cranston, RI

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$25.75

$23.62

+8% in Cranston, RI

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 Tampa, FL

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 / FL)

+1.0 pp in RI

Income Tax (top rate)

5.99%

None

+6.0 pp in RI

Cranston vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Cranston or Tampa?: Cranston, RI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,330 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Cranston than in Tampa?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $41,000 a year in Cranston versus $53,000 in Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Cranston or Tampa?: Cranston is taxed under Rhode Island's rules (a top state income tax rate of 5.99% and a 7% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).