Cranston vs Irvine
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Irvine
The Verdict
Cranston is 38.8% less expensive than Irvine overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $122,477 in Irvine 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 $122,477 in Irvine.
Conversely, $75,000 in Irvine equals $45,927 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Irvine
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is lower Irvine's 294, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $1.1M. The $655,000 difference in home prices means roughly $42,576 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $3,000/mo in Irvine, a monthly difference of $1,625.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 108 in Irvine. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $513/month in Irvine. 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 115 in Irvine. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $460 in Irvine. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 109 in Irvine. 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 $108,038 in Irvine. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $60,696 respectively. Cranston residents enjoy stronger real purchasing power despite lower nominal wages.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,105/month to housing in Cranston vs $2,521/month in Irvine. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Irvine, median rent of $3,000/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 159 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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