Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,440/mo est.

vs
New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/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 $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 5% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Both cities are in Connecticut, so state taxes are identical: a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,159
+22% in New Haven, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,275
+8% in New Haven, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,473
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,636
+0% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$249,000
+1% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$53,771
+5% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$60,060
+2% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
31.9 yr
+4.5 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
28.4%
+14.9 pp in Bridgeport, CT
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
37.7%
+14.6 pp in New Haven, CT
Avg Commute
29.9 min
21.0 min
+8.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
536.3
+34% in New Haven, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,601.6
+144% in New Haven, CT

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
52.2°F
+0.3°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
47.1 in
+4.4 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.94/gal
about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
24.3
24.3
about equal
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$23.33
about equal

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.92
about equal
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.90
about equal
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.69
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / CT)
6.35%
6.35%
about equal
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
6.99%
about equal

Bridgeport vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or New Haven?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,440 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in New Haven?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or New Haven?
Neither — both are in Connecticut, so they share the same state tax rates: a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).