Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Chicago

Illinois

$1,490/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 $1,490 in Chicago, IL. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 2% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Chicago, IL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $75,134 in Chicago, IL — about 25% higher in Chicago, IL. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Chicago, IL

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,186
+25% in Chicago, IL
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,258
+7% in Chicago, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,406
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,554
+5% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$315,200
+25% in Chicago, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$75,134
+33% in Chicago, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$54,720
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.7 yr
+0.7 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
45.5%
+2.2 pp in Chicago, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
43.3%
+20.2 pp in Chicago, IL
Avg Commute
29.9 min
33.5 min
+3.6 min in Chicago, IL

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
539.8
+34% in Chicago, IL
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,489.9
+136% in Chicago, IL

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
52.7°F
+0.2°F in Chicago, IL
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
38.0 in
+4.8 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.29/gal
+11% in Chicago, IL

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Chicago.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
23.9
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$15.39
+34% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Chicago, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / IL)
6.35%
6.25%
+0.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.95%
+2.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Chicago — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Chicago?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 2% below Chicago, IL's $1,490, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Chicago?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $50,000 in Chicago.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Chicago?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Chicago under Illinois's (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% 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).