Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Columbus?

Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Columbus?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $35,000 in Columbus.

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Columbus?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Columbus Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Columbus

Georgia

$1,080/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 $1,080 in Columbus, GA. Overall, Columbus, GA is roughly 26% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $56,622 in Columbus, GA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Georgia has a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Columbus, GA

Rent

Studio

$950

$826

+13% in Bridgeport, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$875

+26% in Bridgeport, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$991

+34% in Bridgeport, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$1,221

+26% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$182,300

+28% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$56,622

+0% in Columbus, GA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

$43,540

+29% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

35.1 yr

+1.3 yr in Bridgeport, CT

Homeownership

43.3%

50.2%

+6.9 pp in Columbus, GA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

29.7%

+6.6 pp in Columbus, GA

Avg Commute

29.9 min

20.2 min

+9.7 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

612.3

+52% in Columbus, GA

Property Crime

1,478.4

2,273.4

+54% in Columbus, GA

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

65.7°F

+13.2°F in Columbus, GA

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

46.8 in

+4.0 in in Columbus, GA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.4

15.8

+42% in Bridgeport, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$33.28

+43% in Columbus, GA

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 Columbus, GA

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 / GA)

6.35%

+2.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

5.19%

+1.8 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Columbus — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Columbus?: Columbus, GA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,080 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 26% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Columbus?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $35,000 in Columbus.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Columbus?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Columbus under Georgia's (a top state income tax rate of 5.19% and a 4% 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).