Cranston vs Fayetteville
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Fayetteville
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 34.6%, with Fayetteville being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cranston has equivalent purchasing power to $55,734 in Fayetteville.
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 $55,734 in Fayetteville.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fayetteville equals $100,926 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Fayetteville
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Fayetteville's 52, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $213,000. The $182,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,832 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,075/mo in Fayetteville, a monthly difference of $300.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 94 in Fayetteville. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $447/month in Fayetteville. Fayetteville offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $504/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 113 in Cranston and 98 in Fayetteville. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $392 in Fayetteville. 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 106 in Fayetteville. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. Healthcare costs are relatively similar between these two cities, though individual plan costs can still vary.
Income & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $90,200 in Cranston and $49,800 in Fayetteville. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $61,481 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 $1,162/month in Fayetteville. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Fayetteville, median rent of $1,075/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 83 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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