Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
St. Paul

Minnesota

$1,300/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 $1,300 in St. Paul, MN. Overall, St. Paul, MN is roughly 11% 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 $73,055 in St. Paul, MN — about 23% higher in St. Paul, 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
St. Paul, MN

Rent

Studio
$950
$995
+5% in St. Paul, MN
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,126
+5% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,384
+8% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,662
+1% in St. Paul, MN

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$280,300
+11% in St. Paul, MN

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$73,055
+29% in St. Paul, MN
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$59,320
+3% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
33.5 yr
+2.9 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
53.2%
+9.9 pp in St. Paul, MN
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
43.5%
+20.4 pp in St. Paul, MN
Avg Commute
29.9 min
22.3 min
+7.6 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
619
+54% in St. Paul, MN
Property Crime
1,478.4
2,897.2
+96% in St. Paul, MN

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
47.1°F
+5.4°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
28.5 in
+14.2 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.95/gal
+2% in St. Paul, 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 St. Paul, 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 St. Paul — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or St. Paul?
St. Paul, MN is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,300 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 11% 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 St. Paul?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $45,000 in St. Paul.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or St. Paul?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); St. Paul 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).