Cranston vs Lafayette
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Lafayette
The Verdict
The cost gap between these cities is 21.1%, with Lafayette being the more affordable option. A $75,000 income in Cranston has equivalent purchasing power to $61,927 in Lafayette.
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 $61,927 in Lafayette.
Conversely, $75,000 in Lafayette equals $90,833 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Lafayette
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Lafayette's 73, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $214,000. The $181,000 difference in home prices means roughly $11,760 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,100/mo in Lafayette, a monthly difference of $275.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 96 in Lafayette. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $456/month in Lafayette. Lafayette offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $396/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 113 in Cranston and 97 in Lafayette. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $388 in Lafayette. 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 80 in Lafayette. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 30-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 $61,900 in Lafayette. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $68,778 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 $1,444/month in Lafayette. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Lafayette, median rent of $1,100/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 62 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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