Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Newark?

Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Newark?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $39,000 in Newark.

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Newark?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Newark Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Newark

New Jersey

$1,210/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 $1,210 in Newark, NJ. Overall, Newark, NJ is roughly 17% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $48,416 in Newark, NJ — about 14% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; New Jersey has a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Newark, NJ

Rent

Studio

$950

$1,111

+17% in Newark, NJ

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$978

+17% in Bridgeport, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$1,386

+8% in Bridgeport, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$1,695

+3% in Newark, NJ

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$337,800

+34% in Newark, NJ

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$48,416

+14% in Bridgeport, CT

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

$61,430

+0% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

34.8 yr

+1.6 yr in Bridgeport, CT

Homeownership

43.3%

24.1%

+19.2 pp in Bridgeport, CT

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

17.4%

+5.7 pp in Bridgeport, CT

Avg Commute

29.9 min

33.2 min

+3.3 min in Newark, NJ

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

582.5

+45% in Newark, NJ

Property Crime

1,478.4

1,961.8

+33% in Newark, NJ

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

54.9°F

+2.4°F in Newark, NJ

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

46.3 in

+3.5 in in Newark, NJ

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

about equal

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.4

23.3

+15% in Bridgeport, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$15.93

+32% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / NJ)

6.35%

6.625%

+0.3 pp in NJ

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

10.75%

+3.8 pp in NJ

Bridgeport vs Newark — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Newark?: Newark, NJ is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,210 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 17% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Newark?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $39,000 in Newark.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Newark?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Newark under New Jersey's (a top state income tax rate of 10.75% and a 6.625% 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).