Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or New Haven?

Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in New Haven?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $51,000 in New Haven.

Which has lower taxes, Eugene or New Haven?

Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Eugene vs New Haven Cost of Living 2026

Eugene

Oregon

$1,260/mo est.

New Haven

Connecticut

$1,530/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,260 in Eugene, OR versus $1,530 in New Haven, CT. Overall, Eugene, OR is roughly 18% cheaper to live in day-to-day than New Haven, CT, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $63,836 in Eugene, OR and $53,771 in New Haven, CT — about 16% higher in Eugene, OR. Oregon has a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Eugene, OR

New Haven, CT

Rent

Studio

$1,011

$1,159

+15% in New Haven, CT

1 Bedroom

$1,080

$1,275

+18% in New Haven, CT

2 Bedroom

$1,411

$1,473

+4% in New Haven, CT

3 Bedroom

$1,674

$1,636

+2% in Eugene, OR

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$435,400

$249,000

+43% in Eugene, OR

Income

Median Household Income

$63,836

$53,771

+16% in Eugene, OR

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$49,680

$60,060

+21% in New Haven, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

35.4 yr

31.9 yr

+3.5 yr in Eugene, OR

Homeownership

47.6%

28.4%

+19.2 pp in Eugene, OR

Bachelor's+ (25+)

44.2%

37.7%

+6.5 pp in Eugene, OR

Avg Commute

18.6 min

21.0 min

+2.4 min in New Haven, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

319.6

536.3

+68% in New Haven, CT

Property Crime

3,348.9

3,601.6

+8% in New Haven, 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

52.2°F

+0.3°F in Eugene, OR

Annual Precipitation

46.1 in

47.1 in

+1.0 in in New Haven, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$5.21/gal

$3.94/gal

+24% in Eugene, OR

Area: West Coast (PADD 5) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.3

24.3

+49% in New Haven, CT

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.60

$23.33

+8% in New Haven, CT

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

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.82

$4.31

+10% in Eugene, OR

Bread (lb)

$2.04

$1.92

+6% in Eugene, OR

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$7.36

$6.90

+6% in Eugene, OR

Chicken (lb)

$2.01

$2.19

+9% in New Haven, CT

Bananas (lb)

$0.70

$0.69

about equal

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

State Taxes

Sales Tax (OR / CT)

None

6.35%

+6.3 pp in CT

Income Tax (top rate)

9.90%

6.99%

+2.9 pp in OR

Eugene vs New Haven — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Eugene or New Haven?: Eugene, OR is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,260 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 18% below New Haven, CT's $1,530, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Eugene than in New Haven?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $43,000 a year in Eugene versus $51,000 in New Haven.
Which has lower taxes, Eugene or New Haven?: Eugene is taxed under Oregon's rules (a top state income tax rate of 9.90% and no state sales tax); New Haven under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% 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).