Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Tampa

Florida

$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 Tampa, FL. Overall, Bridgeport, CT is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Tampa, FL, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $71,302 in Tampa, FL — about 21% higher in Tampa, FL. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Florida has no state income tax and a 6% state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Tampa, FL

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,242
+31% in Tampa, FL
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,324
+12% in Tampa, FL
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,673
+11% in Tampa, FL
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,729
+5% in Tampa, FL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$375,300
+49% in Tampa, FL

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$71,302
+26% in Tampa, FL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$48,940
+20% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
35.6 yr
+0.8 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
43.3%
50.2%
+6.9 pp in Tampa, FL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
44.6%
+21.5 pp in Tampa, FL
Avg Commute
29.9 min
24.7 min
+5.2 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
443.2
+10% in Tampa, FL
Property Crime
1,478.4
1,473.2
+0% 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
73.4°F
+20.9°F in Tampa, FL
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
46.3 in
+3.6 in in Tampa, FL

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.77/gal
+2% in Bridgeport, CT

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Florida.

Public Transit

Base Fare (one-way)
—
$2.00

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

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
15.2
+45% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$23.62
+1% in Tampa, FL

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.00
+7% in Bridgeport, CT
Bread (lb)
$1.92
$1.75
+9% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$2.19
$2.21
+1% in Tampa, FL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.90
$6.45
+6% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.19
$1.90
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.69
$0.62
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (CT / FL)
6.35%
6%
+0.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
None
+7.0 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Tampa — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Tampa?
Bridgeport, CT is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,460 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Tampa, FL's $1,500, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Tampa?
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 Tampa.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Tampa?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Tampa under Florida's (no state income tax 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).