What is the cost of living in Cranston, RI?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Cranston has an overall cost of living index of 115, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Rhode Island, Cranston has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than Rhode Island's index of 112.
The standard of living in Cranston ranks as #9 most affordable out of the 15 places we measured in Rhode Island. By definition, that implies Cranston ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Ocean State.
For more reading on life in Cranston, check out:
Cranston Cost Of Living Vs. Rhode Island
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Cranston. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Cranston is 102.
The Groceries index in Cranston is 103.
The Health index in Cranston is 134.
The Housing index in Cranston is 105.
The Transportation index in Cranston is 106.
The Utilities index in Cranston is 103.
| Living Expense | Cranston | Rhode Island | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 115 | 112 | 100 |
| Services | 102 | 104 | 100 |
| Groceries | 103 | 102 | 100 |
| Health | 134 | 125 | 100 |
| Housing | 105 | 106 | 100 |
| Transportation | 106 | 107 | 100 |
| Utilities | 103 | 108 | 100 |
Cranston Cost Of Living Compared To Rhode Island Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Rhode Island, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Rhode Island
- Most Affordable Cities In Rhode Island
- Average Rent In Rhode Island
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Cranston, RI Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Rhode Island, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Cranston is $446,693.
The Median Rent in Cranston is $1,375.
The Median Income in Cranston is $90,206.
The Home Value To Income in Cranston is 5.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Cranston is 0.18x.
| Statistic | Cranston | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $446,693 | $499,271 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,375 | $1,342 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $90,206 | $87,796 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 5.0x | 5.7x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.18x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Cranston, RI Costs By Category
Detailed Cranston Services costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Cranston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.43 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $14.37 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $22.72 | $18 |
| Haircut | $31.5 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $49.92 | $45.56 |
Detailed Cranston Groceries costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Cranston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.85 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.43 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.74 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.0 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.59 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.74 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.46 | $3.7 |
Detailed Cranston Health costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Cranston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $104.45 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $169.83 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $130.28 | $113.29 |
Detailed Cranston Transportation costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Cranston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.38 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $48.2 | $59.92 |
Detailed Cranston Utilities costs vs. Rhode Island
| Item | Cranston | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $230.62 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $195.18 | $192.25 |
Cranston SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Cranston
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Cranston. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Providence, RI has a cost of living index of 111, 1.0x Cranston.
Warwick, RI has a cost of living index of 109, 0.9x Cranston.
Pawtucket, RI has a cost of living index of 106, 0.9x Cranston.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Cranston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | 191,767 | 111 | 1.0x |
| Warwick, RI | 83,175 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Pawtucket, RI | 75,893 | 106 | 0.9x |
| East Providence, RI | 47,281 | 109 | 0.9x |
| Woonsocket, RI | 43,521 | 106 | 0.9x |
| Central Falls, RI | 22,701 | 105 | 0.9x |
| Somerset, MA | 18,298 | 123 | 1.1x |
| Valley Falls, RI | 12,657 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Greenville, RI | 8,296 | 123 | 1.1x |
