Living Cost Compare
Anchorage

Alaska

$1,320/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,320 in Anchorage, AK versus $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Anchorage, AK is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $98,152 in Anchorage, AK and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 42% higher in Anchorage, AK. Alaska has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Anchorage, AK
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$1,001
$950
+5% in Anchorage, AK
1 Bedroom
$1,052
$1,181
+12% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,433
$1,508
+5% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,952
$1,639
+16% in Anchorage, AK

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$375,900
$252,400
+33% in Anchorage, AK

Income

Median Household Income
$98,152
$56,584
+42% in Anchorage, AK
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$60,200
$61,470
+2% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
34.9 yr
36.4 yr
+1.5 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
63.7%
43.3%
+20.4 pp in Anchorage, AK
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.7%
23.1%
+14.6 pp in Anchorage, AK
Avg Commute
19.0 min
29.9 min
+10.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
1,016.5
401.7
+60% in Anchorage, AK
Property Crime
2,796.2
1,478.4
+47% in Anchorage, AK

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
37.4°F
52.5°F
+15.1°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
17.9 in
42.7 in
+24.8 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$5.09/gal
$3.86/gal
+24% in Anchorage, AK

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
28.2
27.4
+3% in Anchorage, AK
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$14.40
$23.33
+62% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.82
$4.31
+10% in Anchorage, AK
Bread (lb)
$2.04
$1.92
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$7.36
$6.90
+6% in Anchorage, AK
Chicken (lb)
$2.01
$2.19
+9% in Bridgeport, 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 (AK / CT)
None
6.35%
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
None
6.99%
+7.0 pp in CT

Anchorage vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Anchorage or Bridgeport?
Anchorage, AK is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,320 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Anchorage than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $42,000 a year in Anchorage versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Anchorage or Bridgeport?
Anchorage is taxed under Alaska's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Bridgeport 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).