Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

vs
Montgomery

Alabama

$1,020/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 $1,020 in Montgomery, AL. Overall, Montgomery, AL 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 $55,687 in Montgomery, AL — about 2% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Alabama has a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Montgomery, AL

Rent

Studio
$950
$864
+9% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$831
+30% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$982
+35% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,172
+28% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$148,500
+41% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$55,687
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$44,950
+27% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
36.2 yr
+0.2 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
54.3%
+11.0 pp in Montgomery, AL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
33.5%
+10.4 pp in Montgomery, AL
Avg Commute
29.9 min
20.5 min
+9.4 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
605.5
+51% in Montgomery, AL
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,258.3
+53% in Montgomery, AL

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
65.1°F
+12.6°F in Montgomery, AL
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
53.1 in
+10.3 in in Montgomery, AL

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
16.4
+33% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$24.06
+3% in Montgomery, AL

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 Montgomery, AL
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 / AL)
6.35%
4%
+2.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
5.00%
+2.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Montgomery — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Montgomery?
Montgomery, AL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,020 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 29% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,440, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Montgomery?
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 Montgomery.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Montgomery?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Montgomery under Alabama's (a top state income tax rate of 5.00% and a 4% 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).