Cranston vs Sugar Land
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026
Cranston
Sugar Land
The Verdict
Cranston is 0.9% less expensive than Sugar Land overall. A household earning $75,000 in Cranston would need approximately $75,688 in Sugar Land 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 $75,688 in Sugar Land.
Conversely, $75,000 in Sugar Land equals $74,318 in Cranston.
Living in Cranston vs Sugar Land
Housing Costs
Cranston's housing index of 135 is higher Sugar Land's 128, translating to median home prices of $395,000 vs $456,000. The $61,000 difference in home prices means roughly $3,960 per year in additional mortgage costs at current rates. Renters face a similar gap: $1,375/mo in Cranston compared to $1,625/mo in Sugar Land, a monthly difference of $250.
Grocery & Food Costs
Grocery expenses index at 103 in Cranston and 99 in Sugar Land. A household spending the national average of $475/month on groceries would pay approximately $489/month in Cranston vs $470/month in Sugar Land. 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 96 in Sugar Land. Monthly utility bills average approximately $452 in Cranston vs $384 in Sugar Land. Climate differences between the two cities drive much of this gap, with heating and cooling costs varying substantially by region.
Healthcare
Healthcare costs index at 110 in Cranston and 96 in Sugar Land. 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 $128,400 in Sugar Land. After adjusting for local costs, purchasing-power-equivalent incomes are approximately $82,752 and $116,727 respectively. Sugar Land 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 $2,996/month in Sugar Land. In Cranston, median rent of $1,375/mo fits within this budget. In Sugar Land, median rent of $1,625/mo remains manageable. The biggest category-level difference between these two cities is Utilities, where the gap is 17 index points — focus your budget analysis there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Moving & Relocation Resources
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