Cranston vs Philadelphia
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Philadelphia
The Verdict
Philadelphia is 2.8% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $72,936 in Philadelphia 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 $72,936 in Philadelphia.
Conversely, $75,000 in Philadelphia equals $77,123 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Philadelphia
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Philadelphia's 107, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $240,000. The $155,000 difference in home prices means roughly $10,080 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,400/mo in Philadelphia, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 104 in Philadelphia. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $494/month in Philadelphia. 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 113 in Philadelphia. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $452 in Philadelphia. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 101 in Philadelphia. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 9-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 $49,127 in Philadelphia. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $46,346 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 $1,146/month in Philadelphia. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Philadelphia, median rent of $1,400/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 28 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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