Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Fort Worth?

Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of electricity costs.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Fort Worth?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Fort Worth Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Fort Worth

Texas

$1,390/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 $1,390 in Fort Worth, TX. Overall, Fort Worth, TX is roughly 5% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $76,602 in Fort Worth, TX — about 26% higher in Fort Worth, TX. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Texas has no state income tax and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Fort Worth, TX

Rent

Studio

$950

$1,310

+38% in Fort Worth, TX

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,191

+1% in Fort Worth, TX

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$1,393

+8% in Bridgeport, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$1,721

+5% in Fort Worth, TX

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$277,300

+10% in Fort Worth, TX

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$76,602

+35% in Fort Worth, TX

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

$51,440

+16% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

33.4 yr

+3.0 yr in Bridgeport, CT

Homeownership

43.3%

56.7%

+13.4 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

31.7%

+8.6 pp in Fort Worth, TX

Avg Commute

29.9 min

26.9 min

+3.0 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

465.2

+16% in Fort Worth, TX

Property Crime

1,478.4

2,735.7

+85% in Fort Worth, TX

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 Fort Worth, TX

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

36.1 in

+6.6 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$3.62/gal

+6% in Bridgeport, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Texas.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)

—

$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.4

16.4

+40% in Bridgeport, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$30.48

+31% in Fort Worth, TX

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 Fort Worth, TX

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 / TX)

6.35%

6.25%

+0.1 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

None

+7.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Fort Worth — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Fort Worth?: Fort Worth, TX is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,390 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 5% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Fort Worth?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $48,000 in Fort Worth.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Fort Worth?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Fort Worth under Texas's (no state income tax 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).