Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Cleveland

Ohio

$940/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 $940 in Cleveland, OH. Overall, Cleveland, OH is roughly 36% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $39,187 in Cleveland, OH — about 31% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Ohio has a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Cleveland, OH

Rent

Studio
$950
$678
+29% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$732
+38% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$903
+40% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,081
+34% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$94,100
+63% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$39,187
+31% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$50,140
+18% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
36.3 yr
+0.1 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
41.2%
+2.1 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
21.3%
+1.8 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Avg Commute
29.9 min
22.9 min
+7.0 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
1,582
+294% in Cleveland, OH
Property Crime
1,478.4
4,531.3
+207% in Cleveland, OH

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 Cleveland, OH
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
36.4 in
+6.4 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$4.18/gal
+8% in Cleveland, OH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Ohio.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
19.5
+29% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$22.83
+2% 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 Cleveland, OH
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 / OH)
6.35%
5.75%
+0.6 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
2.75%
+4.2 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Cleveland — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Cleveland?
Cleveland, OH is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 36% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Cleveland?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $29,000 in Cleveland.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Cleveland?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Cleveland under Ohio's (a top state income tax rate of 2.75% and a 5.75% 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).