Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Charlotte

North Carolina

$1,560/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 $1,560 in Charlotte, NC. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Charlotte, NC, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $78,438 in Charlotte, NC — about 28% higher in Charlotte, NC. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; North Carolina has a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Charlotte, NC

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,424
+50% in Charlotte, NC
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,374
+16% in Charlotte, NC
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,491
+1% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,663
+1% in Charlotte, NC

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$351,500
+39% in Charlotte, NC

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$78,438
+39% in Charlotte, NC
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$49,990
+19% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
34.4 yr
+2.0 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
51.5%
+8.2 pp in Charlotte, NC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
47.4%
+24.3 pp in Charlotte, NC
Avg Commute
29.9 min
25.0 min
+4.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
733.1
+82% in Charlotte, NC
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,718.9
+152% in Charlotte, NC

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
59.9°F
+7.4°F in Charlotte, NC
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
41.6 in
+1.1 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

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

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.20

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
15.1
+45% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$27.56
+18% in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC
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 / NC)
6.35%
4.75%
+1.6 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.99%
+3.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Charlotte — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Charlotte?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Charlotte, NC's $1,560, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Charlotte?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $55,000 in Charlotte.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Charlotte?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Charlotte under North Carolina's (a top state income tax rate of 3.99% and a 4.75% 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).