City Comparison

Cranston vs Newport News

Cost of Living Comparison · 2026

Cranston

Rhode Island
109
Above Average
$395,000
Median Home
$1,375/mo
Median Rent
$90,200
Median Income

Newport News

Virginia
92
Below Average
$261,000
Median Home
$1,175/mo
Median Rent
$69,600
Median Income

The Verdict

18.5%

Living in Newport News costs 18.5% less than Cranston. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cranston, you would need $63,303 in Newport News.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

Index values · National average = 100 · Lower is more affordable

Housing
135
Cranston
75
Newport News
Groceries
103
Cranston
99
Newport News
Utilities
113
Cranston
104
Newport News
Transportation
93
Cranston
96
Newport News
Healthcare
110
Cranston
111
Newport News

Salary Equivalence

A $75,000 salary in Cranston has the same purchasing power as $63,303 in Newport News.

Conversely, $75,000 in Newport News equals $88,859 in Cranston.

Living in Cranston vs Newport News

Housing Costs

Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Newport News's 75, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $261,000. The $134,000 difference in home prices means roughly $8,712 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,175/mo in Newport News, a monthly difference of $200.

Grocery & Food Costs

Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 99 in Newport News. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $470/month in Newport News. 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 104 in Newport News. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $416 in Newport News. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.

Healthcare

Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 111 in Newport News. 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 $69,600 in Newport News. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $75,652 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 $1,624/month in Newport News. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Newport News, median rent of $1,175/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 60 index points — focus your budget analysis there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Newport News is 18.5% more affordable overall with an index of 92 vs 109.
A $75,000 salary in Cranston has equivalent purchasing power to approximately $63,303 in Newport News, based on the cost of living difference.
Cranston's housing index is 135 with median homes at $395,000, while Newport News's is 75 with median homes at $261,000.

Moving & Relocation Resources

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