Albany vs Cranston
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Albany
Cranston
The Verdict
Albany is 9.2% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Albany would need approximately $82,576 in Cranston to maintain the same standard of living.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable
Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Albany has the same purchasing power as $82,576 in Cranston.
Conversely, $75,000 in Cranston equals $68,119 in Albany.
Living in Albany vs Cranston
Housing Costs
Albany's housing index of 93 is lower Cranston's 135, translating to median home prices of $220,000 vs $395,000. The $175,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,376 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,200/mo in Albany compared to $1,375/mo in Cranston, a monthly difference of $175.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 102 in Albany and 103 in Cranston. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $485/month in Albany vs $489/month in Cranston. The difference in grocery costs between these cities is relatively minor and unlikely to be a deciding factor in relocation.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 107 in Albany and 113 in Cranston. Monthly utility bills average approximately $428 in Albany vs $452 in Cranston. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 100 in Albany and 110 in Cranston. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 10-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $43,098 in Albany and $90,200 in Cranston. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $43,533 and $82,752 respectively. Cranston residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $1,006/month to housing in Albany vs $2,105/month in Cranston. In Albany, median rent of $1,200/mo exceeds this threshold, suggesting renters may feel stretched. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 42 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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