Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
Hartford

Connecticut

$1,300/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $2,100 in Anaheim, CA versus $1,300 in Hartford, CT. Overall, Hartford, CT is roughly 38% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $45,300 in Hartford, CT — about 50% higher in Anaheim, CA. California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$973
+50% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,042
+41% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,296
+40% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,433
+46% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$217,200
+72% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$45,300
+50% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$59,940
+7% in Hartford, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
33.4 yr
+2.5 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
25.7%
+20.2 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
18.3%
+10.5 pp in Anaheim, CA
Avg Commute
28.2 min
22.8 min
+5.4 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
527.5
+12% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
2,949.2
+32% in Hartford, CT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
67.1°F
51.2°F
+15.9°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
43.6 in
+30.2 in in Hartford, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.53/gal
$3.94/gal
+29% in Anaheim, CA

Area: Los Angeles vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
$2.00

Adult base one-way fare — OCTA vs (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
34.7
24.3
+30% in Anaheim, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$20.33
$23.33
+15% in Hartford, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anaheim, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Hartford, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.70
$0.69
about equal

Average prices — West vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CA / CT)
7.25%
6.35%
+0.9 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
13.30%
6.99%
+6.3 pp in CA

Anaheim vs Hartford — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or Hartford?
Hartford, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 38% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in Hartford?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $42,000 in Hartford.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or Hartford?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); Hartford under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).