Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Fresno

California

$1,370/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 $1,370 in Fresno, CA. Overall, Fresno, CA is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $66,804 in Fresno, CA — about 15% higher in Fresno, CA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Fresno, CA

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,072
+13% in Fresno, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,042
+12% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,293
+14% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,688
+3% in Fresno, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$348,500
+38% in Fresno, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$66,804
+18% in Fresno, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$46,910
+24% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
32.4 yr
+4.0 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
49.7%
+6.4 pp in Fresno, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
24.9%
+1.8 pp in Fresno, CA
Avg Commute
29.9 min
22.3 min
+7.6 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
742.2
+85% in Fresno, CA
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,335.3
+126% in Fresno, CA

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
64.4°F
+11.9°F in Fresno, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
11.5 in
+31.2 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% in Fresno, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$1.25

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
33.3
+21% in Fresno, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$20.72
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Fresno, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Fresno, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Fresno, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

Average prices — Northeast vs West (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / CA)
6.35%
7.25%
+0.9 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
13.30%
+6.3 pp in CA

Bridgeport vs Fresno — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Fresno?
Fresno, CA is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,370 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Fresno?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $42,000 in Fresno.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Fresno?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Fresno under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).