Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Rochester

Minnesota

$1,280/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 $1,280 in Rochester, MN. Overall, Rochester, MN is roughly 12% 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 $87,767 in Rochester, MN — about 36% higher in Rochester, MN. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Minnesota has a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Rochester, MN

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,080
+14% in Rochester, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,106
+6% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,243
+18% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,646
+0% in Rochester, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$287,500
+14% in Rochester, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$87,767
+55% in Rochester, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$60,620
+1% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
36.4 yr
about equal
Homeownership
43.3%
65.4%
+22.1 pp in Rochester, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
50.1%
+27.0 pp in Rochester, MN
Avg Commute
29.9 min
17.2 min
+12.7 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
158.9
+60% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,478.4
1,379
+7% in Bridgeport, 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
45.4°F
+7.1°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
33.0 in
+9.7 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in Rochester, MN

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Minnesota.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
16.9
+38% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$14.95
+36% 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 Rochester, MN
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 / MN)
6.35%
6.875%
+0.5 pp in MN
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
9.85%
+2.9 pp in MN

Bridgeport vs Rochester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Rochester?
Rochester, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,280 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 12% 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 Rochester?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $44,000 in Rochester.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Rochester?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Rochester under Minnesota's (a top state income tax rate of 9.85% and a 6.875% 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).