Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Tacoma?

Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.

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

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $53,000 in Tacoma.

Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Tacoma?

Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax).

Bridgeport vs Tacoma Cost of Living 2026

Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Tacoma

Washington

$1,500/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 $1,500 in Tacoma, WA. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tacoma, WA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $83,857 in Tacoma, WA — about 33% higher in Tacoma, WA. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Washington has no state income tax and a 6.5% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT

Tacoma, WA

Rent

Studio

$950

$1,178

+24% in Tacoma, WA

1 Bedroom

$1,181

$1,332

+13% in Tacoma, WA

2 Bedroom

$1,508

$1,693

+12% in Tacoma, WA

3 Bedroom

$1,639

$2,094

+28% in Tacoma, WA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$252,400

$454,600

+80% in Tacoma, WA

Income

Median Household Income

$56,584

$83,857

+48% in Tacoma, WA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$61,470

$72,610

+18% in Tacoma, WA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

36.4 yr

37.3 yr

+0.9 yr in Tacoma, WA

Homeownership

43.3%

56.5%

+13.2 pp in Tacoma, WA

Bachelor's+ (25+)

23.1%

33.5%

+10.4 pp in Tacoma, WA

Avg Commute

29.9 min

29.0 min

+0.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

401.7

1,064.4

+165% in Tacoma, WA

Property Crime

1,478.4

5,695.2

+285% in Tacoma, WA

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

52.1°F

+0.4°F in Bridgeport, CT

Annual Precipitation

42.7 in

43.0 in

+0.3 in in Tacoma, WA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.86/gal

$5.12/gal

+33% in Tacoma, WA

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Washington.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.4

14.9

+45% in Bridgeport, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$23.33

$20.41

+13% in Bridgeport, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

$4.82

+12% in Tacoma, WA

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$2.04

+6% in Tacoma, WA

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$7.36

+7% in Tacoma, WA

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 / WA)

6.35%

6.5%

+0.2 pp in WA

Income Tax (top rate)

6.99%

None

+7.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Tacoma — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Tacoma?: Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Tacoma, WA's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Tacoma?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $53,000 in Tacoma.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Tacoma?: Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Tacoma under Washington's (no state income tax and a 6.5% 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).