Cranston vs Portland
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Portland
The Verdict
Cranston is 6.8% less expensive than Portland overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $80,505 in Portland 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 $80,505 in Portland.
Conversely, $75,000 in Portland equals $69,872 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Portland
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is lower Portland's 137, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $395,000. The $0 difference in home prices means roughly $0 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,700/mo in Portland, a monthly difference of $325.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 107 in Portland. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $508/month in Portland. 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 111 in Portland. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $444 in Portland. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 110 in Portland. 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 $56,895 in Portland. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $48,628 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 $1,328/month in Portland. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Portland, median rent of $1,700/mo pushes past the recommended limit. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Transportation, where the gap is 5 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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