Cranston vs Duluth
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Duluth
The Verdict
Duluth is 28.2% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $58,486 in Duluth 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 $58,486 in Duluth.
Conversely, $75,000 in Duluth equals $96,176 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Duluth
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Duluth's 88, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $268,000. The $127,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,256 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,025/mo in Duluth, a monthly difference of $350.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 99 in Duluth. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $470/month in Duluth. 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 94 in Duluth. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $376 in Duluth. 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 123 in Duluth. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 13-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 $68,800 in Duluth. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $80,941 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 $1,605/month in Duluth. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Duluth, median rent of $1,025/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 47 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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