Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Charleston

South Carolina

$1,620/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,620 in Charleston, SC. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 10% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charleston, SC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $90,038 in Charleston, SC — about 37% higher in Charleston, SC. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; South Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Charleston, SC

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,579
+66% in Charleston, SC
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,430
+21% in Charleston, SC
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,684
+12% in Charleston, SC
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$2,076
+27% in Charleston, SC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$469,100
+86% in Charleston, SC

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$90,038
+59% in Charleston, SC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$49,150
+20% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
36.1 yr
+0.3 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
55.6%
+12.3 pp in Charleston, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
57.7%
+34.6 pp in Charleston, SC
Avg Commute
29.9 min
23.8 min
+6.1 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
358.8
+11% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,035.1
+38% in Charleston, SC

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

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
52.5°F
66.7°F
+14.2°F in Charleston, SC
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
44.4 in
+1.7 in in Charleston, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
16.2
+41% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$27.35
+17% in Charleston, SC

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Charleston, SC
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / SC)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
6.00%
+1.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Charleston?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 10% below Charleston, SC's $1,620, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Charleston?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $57,000 in Charleston.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Charleston?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Charleston under South Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 6.00% and a 6% 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).