Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Lincoln

Nebraska

$1,030/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 $1,030 in Lincoln, NE. Overall, Lincoln, NE is roughly 29% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $69,991 in Lincoln, NE — about 19% higher in Lincoln, NE. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Nebraska has a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Lincoln, NE

Rent

Studio
$950
$851
+10% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$879
+26% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,070
+29% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,379
+16% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$248,200
+2% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$69,991
+24% in Lincoln, NE
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$49,800
+19% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.4 yr
+3.0 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
55.8%
+12.5 pp in Lincoln, NE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
41.0%
+17.9 pp in Lincoln, NE
Avg Commute
29.9 min
18.3 min
+11.6 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
363.1
+10% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,484.4
+68% in Lincoln, NE

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
51.5°F
+1.0°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
30.9 in
+11.9 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Lincoln, NE

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
13.6
+50% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$15.53
+33% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.66
+14% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$3.63
+66% in Lincoln, NE
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.77
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.10
+4% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / NE)
6.35%
5.5%
+0.8 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
4.55%
+2.4 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Lincoln — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Lincoln?
Lincoln, NE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,030 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Lincoln?
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 Lincoln.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Lincoln?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Lincoln under Nebraska's (a top state income tax rate of 4.55% and a 5.5% 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).