Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Charleston

West Virginia

$860/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 $860 in Charleston, WV. Overall, Charleston, WV is roughly 41% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $64,512 in Charleston, WV — about 12% higher in Charleston, WV. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Charleston, WV

Rent

Studio
$950
$630
+34% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$668
+43% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$980
+35% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,139
+31% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$187,300
+26% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$64,512
+14% in Charleston, WV
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$45,830
+25% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
42.6 yr
+6.2 yr in Charleston, WV
Homeownership
43.3%
62.8%
+19.5 pp in Charleston, WV
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
44.1%
+21.0 pp in Charleston, WV
Avg Commute
29.9 min
17.9 min
+12.0 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
542.7
+35% in Charleston, WV
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,148
+113% in Charleston, WV

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
55.7°F
+3.2°F in Charleston, WV
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
44.0 in
+1.3 in in Charleston, WV

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
16.8
+39% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$24.68
+6% in Charleston, WV

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, WV
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 / WV)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.82%
+2.2 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Charleston — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Charleston?
Charleston, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $860 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 41% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, 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 $27,000 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 West Virginia's (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% 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).