Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Fayetteville

Arkansas

$990/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 $990 in Fayetteville, AR. Overall, Fayetteville, AR is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $59,074 in Fayetteville, AR — about 4% higher in Fayetteville, AR. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Arkansas has a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Fayetteville, AR

Rent

Studio
$950
$709
+25% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$817
+31% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$999
+34% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,430
+13% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$322,500
+28% in Fayetteville, AR

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$59,074
+4% in Fayetteville, AR
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$46,610
+24% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
28.7 yr
+7.7 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
41.9%
+1.4 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
49.8%
+26.7 pp in Fayetteville, AR
Avg Commute
29.9 min
18.2 min
+11.7 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
429.4
+7% in Fayetteville, AR
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,392.2
+62% in Fayetteville, AR

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
57.1°F
+4.6°F in Fayetteville, AR
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
48.5 in
+5.8 in in Fayetteville, AR

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.62/gal
+8% in Bridgeport, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
14.1
+42% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$27.86
+19% in Fayetteville, AR

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 Fayetteville, AR
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 / AR)
6.35%
6.5%
+0.2 pp in AR
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.90%
+3.1 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Fayetteville — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville, AR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $990 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Fayetteville?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $33,000 in Fayetteville.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Fayetteville?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Fayetteville under Arkansas's (a top state income tax rate of 3.90% and a 6.5% 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).