Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Columbia

South Carolina

$1,220/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,440 in Bridgeport, CT versus $1,220 in Columbia, SC. Overall, Columbia, SC is roughly 15% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $55,653 in Columbia, SC — about 2% higher in Bridgeport, CT. 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
Columbia, SC

Rent

Studio
$950
$802
+16% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,026
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,164
+23% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,338
+18% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$243,500
+4% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$55,653
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$46,430
+24% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
28.7 yr
+7.7 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
47.3%
+4.0 pp in Columbia, SC
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
46.1%
+23.0 pp in Columbia, SC
Avg Commute
29.9 min
17.4 min
+12.5 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
769.9
+92% in Columbia, SC
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,265.1
+121% in Columbia, 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
64.9°F
+12.4°F in Columbia, SC
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
45.4 in
+2.7 in in Columbia, SC

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
15.6
+36% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$29.07
+25% in Columbia, 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 Columbia, 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 Columbia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Columbia?
Columbia, SC is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,220 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 15% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Columbia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $41,000 in Columbia.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Columbia?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Columbia 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).