Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Bridgeport?

Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Bridgeport?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.

Which has lower taxes, Austin or Bridgeport?

Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Austin vs Bridgeport Cost of Living 2026

Austin

Texas

$1,660/mo est.

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,660 in Austin, TX versus $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 12% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Austin, TX, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $91,461 in Austin, TX and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 38% higher in Austin, TX. Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Austin, TX

Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,348

$950

+30% in Austin, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,457

$1,181

+19% in Austin, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,776

$1,508

+15% in Austin, TX

3 Bedroom

$2,127

$1,639

+23% in Austin, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$512,700

$252,400

+51% in Austin, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$91,461

$56,584

+38% in Austin, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$56,950

$61,470

+8% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.5 yr

36.4 yr

+1.9 yr in Bridgeport, CT

Homeownership

44.4%

43.3%

+1.1 pp in Austin, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

58.2%

23.1%

+35.1 pp in Austin, TX

Avg Commute

24.0 min

29.9 min

+5.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

476.1

401.7

+16% in Austin, TX

Property Crime

3,290.7

1,478.4

+55% in Austin, TX

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

67.2°F

52.5°F

+14.7°F in Austin, TX

Annual Precipitation

34.9 in

42.7 in

+7.9 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.62/gal

$3.86/gal

+7% in Bridgeport, CT

Area: Texas vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

$1.25

—

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.4

27.4

+66% in Bridgeport, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$30.48

$23.33

+23% in Austin, TX

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

$4.31

+8% in Bridgeport, CT

Bread (lb)

$1.75

$1.92

+10% in Bridgeport, CT

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

$2.19

+1% in Austin, TX

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

$6.90

+7% in Bridgeport, CT

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

$2.19

+15% in Bridgeport, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (TX / CT)

6.25%

6.35%

+0.1 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

None

6.99%

+7.0 pp in CT

Austin vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Austin or Bridgeport?: Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% below Austin, TX's $1,660, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Austin than in Bridgeport?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $58,000 a year in Austin versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Austin or Bridgeport?: Austin is taxed under Texas's rules (no state income tax and a 6.25% 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).