Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

$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 Philadelphia, PA. Overall, Philadelphia, PA 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 $60,698 in Philadelphia, PA — about 7% higher in Philadelphia, PA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Pennsylvania has a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Philadelphia, PA

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,126
+19% in Philadelphia, PA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,189
+1% in Philadelphia, PA
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,394
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,406
+14% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$232,400
+8% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$60,698
+7% in Philadelphia, PA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$54,310
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.1 yr
+1.3 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
52.3%
+9.0 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
34.6%
+11.5 pp in Philadelphia, PA
Avg Commute
29.9 min
32.0 min
+2.1 min in Philadelphia, PA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
917.1
+128% in Philadelphia, PA
Property Crime
1,478.4
4,615.3
+212% in Philadelphia, PA

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
57.1°F
+4.6°F in Philadelphia, PA
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
48.5 in
+5.8 in in Philadelphia, PA

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

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

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

Adult base one-way fare — — vs SEPTA (2026).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
21.6
+21% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$19.17
+18% 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
$1.92
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 / PA)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
3.07%
+3.9 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Philadelphia — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Philadelphia?
Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $48,000 in Philadelphia.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Philadelphia?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Philadelphia under Pennsylvania's (a top state income tax rate of 3.07% and a 6% 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).