Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Sacramento

California

$1,740/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 $1,740 in Sacramento, CA. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Sacramento, CA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $83,753 in Sacramento, CA — about 32% higher in Sacramento, CA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; California has a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Sacramento, CA

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,259
+33% in Sacramento, CA
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,418
+20% in Sacramento, CA
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,742
+16% in Sacramento, CA
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,973
+20% in Sacramento, CA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$484,600
+92% in Sacramento, CA

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$83,753
+48% in Sacramento, CA
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$59,750
+3% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.7 yr
+0.7 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
51.5%
+8.2 pp in Sacramento, CA
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
36.4%
+13.3 pp in Sacramento, CA
Avg Commute
29.9 min
25.6 min
+4.3 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
756.6
+88% in Sacramento, CA
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,615.3
+77% in Sacramento, CA

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
61.0°F
+8.5°F in Sacramento, CA
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
18.5 in
+24.2 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$5.40/gal
+40% in Sacramento, CA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs California.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.50

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
33.3
+21% in Sacramento, CA
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$20.72
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.82
+12% in Sacramento, CA
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$2.04
+6% in Sacramento, CA
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.19
about equal
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$7.36
+7% in Sacramento, CA
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$2.01
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.70
about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / CA)
6.35%
7.25%
+0.9 pp in CA
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
13.30%
+6.3 pp in CA

Bridgeport vs Sacramento — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Sacramento?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Sacramento, CA's $1,740, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Sacramento?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $57,000 in Sacramento.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Sacramento?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Sacramento under California's (a top state income tax rate of 13.30% and a 7.25% 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).