Living Cost Compare
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

vs
Wilmington

Delaware

$1,230/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 $1,230 in Wilmington, DE. Overall, Wilmington, DE is roughly 16% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT and $55,269 in Wilmington, DE — about 2% higher in Bridgeport, CT. Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax; Delaware has a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no state sales tax.

Bridgeport, CT
Wilmington, DE

Rent

Studio
$950
$1,103
+16% in Wilmington, DE
1 Bedroom
$1,181
$1,024
+13% in Bridgeport, CT
2 Bedroom
$1,508
$1,213
+20% in Bridgeport, CT
3 Bedroom
$1,639
$1,394
+15% in Bridgeport, CT

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$252,400
$224,500
+11% in Bridgeport, CT

Income

Median Household Income
$56,584
$55,269
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$61,470
$54,310
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
36.4 yr
37.0 yr
+0.6 yr in Wilmington, DE
Homeownership
43.3%
46.0%
+2.7 pp in Wilmington, DE
Bachelor's+ (25+)
23.1%
33.1%
+10.0 pp in Wilmington, DE
Avg Commute
29.9 min
23.0 min
+6.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
401.7
1,138.2
+183% in Wilmington, DE
Property Crime
1,478.4
3,182.4
+115% in Wilmington, DE

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
54.9°F
+2.4°F in Wilmington, DE
Annual Precipitation
42.7 in
43.1 in
+0.3 in in Wilmington, DE

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.86/gal
$3.86/gal
about equal

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
27.4
19.4
+29% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$23.33
$22.51
+4% in Bridgeport, CT

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 Wilmington, DE
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 / DE)
6.35%
None
+6.3 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
6.99%
6.60%
+0.4 pp in CT

Bridgeport vs Wilmington — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Bridgeport or Wilmington?
Wilmington, DE is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,230 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 16% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Bridgeport than in Wilmington?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Bridgeport versus $41,000 in Wilmington.
Which has lower taxes, Bridgeport or Wilmington?
Bridgeport is taxed under Connecticut's rules (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax); Wilmington under Delaware's (a top state income tax rate of 6.60% and no 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).