Cranston vs Denton
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Denton
The Verdict
Denton is 0.9% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $74,312 in Denton 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 Cranston has the same purchasing power as $74,312 in Denton.
Conversely, $75,000 in Denton equals $75,694 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Denton
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Denton's 126, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $385,000. The $10,000 difference in home prices means roughly $648 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,425/mo in Denton, a monthly difference of $50.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 98 in Denton. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $466/month in Denton. 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 113 in Cranston and 90 in Denton. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $360 in Denton. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 81 in Denton. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 29-point gap reflects real differences in provider costs, insurance market competition, and regional healthcare infrastructure.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $90,200 in Cranston and $73,700 in Denton. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $68,241 respectively. Cranston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite higher nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,105/month to housing in Cranston vs $1,720/month in Denton. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Denton, median rent of $1,425/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Healthcare, where the gap is 29 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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