Living Cost Compare
Anaheim

California

$2,100/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, New Haven, CT is roughly 27% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Anaheim, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $90,583 in Anaheim, CA and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 41% 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.

Anaheim, CA
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,929
$1,159
+40% in Anaheim, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,764
$1,275
+28% in Anaheim, CA
2 Bedroom
$2,171
$1,473
+32% in Anaheim, CA
3 Bedroom
$2,653
$1,636
+38% in Anaheim, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$771,700
$249,000
+68% in Anaheim, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$90,583
$53,771
+41% in Anaheim, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$55,850
$60,060
+8% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.9 yr
31.9 yr
+4.0 yr in Anaheim, CA
Homeownership
45.9%
28.4%
+17.5 pp in Anaheim, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
28.8%
37.7%
+8.9 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
28.2 min
21.0 min
+7.2 min in Anaheim, CA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
597.7
536.3
+10% in Anaheim, CA
Property Crime
2,234.9
3,601.6
+61% in New Haven, 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
52.2°F
+14.9°F in Anaheim, CA
Annual Precipitation
13.4 in
47.1 in
+33.7 in in New Haven, 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 New Haven, 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 New Haven, 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 New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anaheim or New Haven?
New Haven, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,530 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 27% below Anaheim, CA's $2,100, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anaheim than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $71,000 a year in Anaheim versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Anaheim or New Haven?
Anaheim is taxed under California's rules (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax); New Haven 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).