Cranston vs Oxnard
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Oxnard
The Verdict
Living in Cranston costs 29.2% less than Oxnard. To match the purchasing power of a $75,000 salary in Cranston, you would need $105,963 in Oxnard.
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 $105,963 in Oxnard.
Conversely, $75,000 in Oxnard equals $53,084 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Oxnard
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is lower Oxnard's 253, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $653,000. The $258,000 difference in home prices means roughly $16,776 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,925/mo in Oxnard, a monthly difference of $550.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 112 in Oxnard. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $532/month in Oxnard. Cranston offers a meaningful advantage on everyday food costs, saving roughly $516/year.
Utility Expenses
Utility costs — electricity, gas, water, internet — index at 113 in Cranston and 107 in Oxnard. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $428 in Oxnard. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 113 in Oxnard. 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 $96,200 in Oxnard. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $62,468 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 $2,245/month in Oxnard. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Oxnard, median rent of $1,925/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 118 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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