Cranston vs Round Rock
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Round Rock
The Verdict
Round Rock is 7.9% less expensive than Cranston overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $69,495 in Round Rock 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 $69,495 in Round Rock.
Conversely, $75,000 in Round Rock equals $80,941 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Round Rock
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Round Rock's 92, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $413,000. The $18,000 difference in home prices means roughly $1,176 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 Round Rock, a monthly difference of $25.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 96 in Round Rock. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $456/month in Round Rock. Round Rock 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 109 in Round Rock. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $436 in Round Rock. Utility costs are relatively comparable between these two cities.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 96 in Round Rock. This encompasses insurance premiums, doctor visit copays, dental care, and prescription costs. The 14-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 $100,500 in Round Rock. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $99,505 respectively. Round Rock residents come out ahead in real purchasing power.
Relocation Considerations
Under the standard 28% rule, a median-income household can allocate $2,105/month to housing in Cranston vs $2,345/month in Round Rock. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Round Rock, median rent of $1,400/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Housing, where the gap is 43 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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