Cost of Living in Cranston, RI
Updated November 2026 · Providence County · Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area · population 83,250
Prices in Cranston are 1.6% above the US average (local index 101.6; the BEA index for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area is 101.8), with utilities the biggest cost driver at 148.8; a single adult's modelled budget is about $2,743 a month and the median rent is $1,375.
Prices by category
CostLiving local estimate. 100 = US average; 110 means prices are 10% higher. Housing reflects Cranston's own median rent compared with the area's average rent; goods, utilities and other services are BEA's official price parities for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area, unchanged.
Cranston price index by category, US average = 100: All items 101.6, Housing (rents) 107.4, Goods 97.1, Utilities 148.8, Other services 102.3
It is the 3rd most expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
| BEA index | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All items | 101.9 | 101.7 | 101.4 | 103.6 | 101.5 | 101.8 |
Monthly budget by household type
1 adult · 1-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cranston, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $962 | $11,544 | 35% |
| Utilities | $347 | $4,164 | 13% |
| Food at home | $274 | $3,288 | 10% |
| Transportation | $636 | $7,632 | 23% |
| Health care | $359 | $4,308 | 13% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $165 | $1,980 | 6% |
| Total | $2,743 | $32,916 | 100% |
2 adults · 2-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cranston, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,299 | $15,588 | 28% |
| Utilities | $557 | $6,684 | 12% |
| Food at home | $506 | $6,072 | 11% |
| Transportation | $1,260 | $15,120 | 27% |
| Health care | $666 | $7,992 | 14% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $325 | $3,900 | 7% |
| Total | $4,613 | $55,356 | 100% |
2 adults + 2 children · 3-bedroom · modelled estimate for Cranston, RI
| Category | Per month | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | $1,506 | $18,072 | 27% |
| Utilities | $677 | $8,124 | 12% |
| Food at home | $721 | $8,652 | 13% |
| Transportation | $1,675 | $20,100 | 30% |
| Health care | $621 | $7,452 | 11% |
| Clothing, personal care & supplies | $418 | $5,016 | 7% |
| Total | $5,618 | $67,416 | 100% |
Modelled estimate of basic costs, excluding taxes, child care and savings. Housing is rent excluding tenant-paid utilities (counted under utilities). See how the budget is calculated.
Housing costs in Cranston
Rent by number of bedrooms
| Size | Median rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,214 modelled from city median rent |
| 1 bedroom | $1,099 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,483 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,720 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,076 |
Median rent: Census ACS 2020-2024 median gross rent by bedrooms (rent plus tenant-paid utilities, all renters).
Rent, home values and affordability
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,375 |
| Median contract rent (excl. utilities) | $1,204 |
| Median home value | $378,300 |
| Owner costs with a mortgage | $2,202/mo |
| Median household income | $90,206 |
| Rent as % of renter income Moderate | 28.8% |
| Home value ÷ household income Moderate | 4.2× |
Census ACS 5-year 2020-2024.
Electricity and gas prices
Residential electricity in Rhode Island
28.18¢ per kWh, August 2026
12-month change: +6.2% (from 26.53¢) · US 18.16¢
Average household uses 550 kWh a month in Rhode Island ≈ $162/month. Source: EIA-861M (statewide average).
Regular gasoline regional figure: New England (PADD 1A)
$4.14 per gallon, week of 2026-11-02
12-month change: +41.4% (from $2.93) · US $4.15
EIA weekly retail price survey; Rhode Island is covered by the New England (PADD 1A) average.
Inflation in the Northeast
Consumer prices in the Northeast Census region rose +4.2% in the 12 months to September 2026 (US +3.7%). Nationally, food at home changed +1.8%, shelter +3.2% and energy +20.4%. Source: BLS CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted. CPI is published for regions and large metro areas, so the regional figure is shown.
Salary equivalent
Because prices in Cranston are 1.6% above the US average, $60,000 here has the buying power of about $59,100 in an average-priced US area.
Formula: US-equivalent = salary × 100 ÷ 101.6. Based on the local cost index (CostLiving estimate from BEA RPP and Census rents); taxes not included.
Nearby cities
| City | Distance | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 5 mi | 102.0 | $2,658 | $1,408 |
| Warwick, RI | 6 mi | 101.4 | $2,720 | $1,363 |
| Pawtucket, RI | 9 mi | 99.2 | $2,569 | $1,208 |
| Fall River, MA | 21 mi | 98.4 | $2,470 | $1,155 |
| Newport, RI | 21 mi | 106.2 | $2,674 | $1,698 |
| Taunton, MA | 22 mi | 100.8 | $2,629 | $1,324 |
Cities with a similar cost of living
| City | Index | Budget (single) | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medford, OR | 101.6 | $2,692 | $1,376 |
| Smyrna, GA | 101.6 | $3,075 | $1,739 |
| Vail, CO | 101.5 | $2,990 | $1,606 |
| Port Charlotte, FL | 101.6 | $2,549 | $1,553 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 101.5 | $3,006 | $1,690 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 101.5 | $2,782 | $1,397 |
Compare Cranston with another city
Frequently asked questions
Is Cranston, RI an expensive place to live?
Cranston has a local cost of living index of 101.6, which is 1.6% above the US average. This CostLiving estimate starts from the BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (101.8) and adjusts housing to Cranston's own rents. It is 0.7 points below the Rhode Island average. It is the 3rd most expensive of the 5 Rhode Island cities in our data. Cheaper than 53% of the cities we cover.
How much money do you need to live in Cranston?
Our modelled estimate of basic monthly costs is $2,743 for a single adult, $4,613 for a couple and $5,618 for a family of four, before taxes, child care and savings. A $60,000 salary in an average-priced US area buys about the same as $60,900 in Cranston.
What is the average rent in Cranston?
The median gross rent (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) is $1,375 a month (Census ACS 2020-2024). By size: 1 bedroom $1,099, 2 bedrooms $1,483, 3 bedrooms $1,720. The typical renter spends 28.8% of household income on rent (moderate).
How much does a house cost in Cranston?
The median owner-estimated home value is $378,300, 4.2 times the median household income of $90,206 (moderate). Owners with a mortgage pay a median $2,202 a month in housing costs.
How much is electricity and gas in Cranston?
Rhode Island residential electricity averaged 28.18¢ per kWh in August 2026 (US 18.16¢). Regular gasoline was $4.14 a gallon (New England (PADD 1A) average, week of 2026-11-02).
Sources and notes
- Local cost index: CostLiving estimate from BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 for the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area (BEA index 101.8) with housing from Census ACS median rent (city figure); see the methodology.
- Rents, home values, income, population: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year 2020-2024, Census place 4419180 (Cranston city).
- Electricity: EIA-861M, Rhode Island residential average, August 2026.
- Gasoline: EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, New England (PADD 1A), week of 2026-11-02.
- Inflation: BLS CPI-U Northeast region, September 2026.
- Budget baselines: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2025; electricity use by household size: EIA RECS 2020.
- Gasoline price: regional figure (EIA publishes weekly prices for only 9 states).
Labels such as “county figure” or “state nonmetro figure” mark values that come from a larger area because the city-level figure is unavailable or unreliable. The monthly budget is a modelled estimate, not observed spending, and excludes taxes. This page is for general information and is not financial advice. Methodology · All sources