Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Madison

Wisconsin

$1,410/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 $1,410 in Madison, WI. Overall, Madison, WI is roughly 3% 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 $76,983 in Madison, WI — about 26% higher in Madison, WI. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Wisconsin has a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 5% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Madison, WI

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,018
+7% in Madison, WI
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,219
+3% in Madison, WI
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,432
+5% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,766
+8% in Madison, WI

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$346,900
+37% in Madison, WI

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$76,983
+36% in Madison, WI
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$58,080
+6% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
31.8 yr
+4.6 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
46.6%
+3.3 pp in Madison, WI
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
59.2%
+36.1 pp in Madison, WI
Avg Commute
29.9 min
19.4 min
+10.5 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
259.5
+35% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
1,884.5
+27% in Madison, WI

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
46.5°F
+6.0°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
34.5 in
+8.3 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.94/gal
+2% in Madison, WI

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
19.7
+28% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$11.79
+49% 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 Madison, WI
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 / WI)
6.35%
5%
+1.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
7.65%
+0.7 pp in WI

Bridgeport vs Madison — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Madison?
Madison, WI is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,410 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% 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 Madison?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $49,000 in Madison.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Madison?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Madison under Wisconsin's (a top state income tax rate of 7.65% and a 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).